Wine

“Wine is bottled poetry.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Cline Ancient Vines Red Blend

” This is our version of a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) with extra special splashes of a couple of varietals that we love. Sourced from some of our oldest vines in Contra Costa, predominately own-rooted and dry-farmed, the wine brings all the flavor and freshness of California grapes with a distinctly old-world vibe. A perfect marriage of boysenberry, blackberry, plum and chocolate with mouth-watering acidity and succulent tannins lead into an irresistibly long finish.”

Cline Ancient Vines Red Blend is a rich and flavorful wine that showcases the diversity and complexity of California’s Contra Costa County. Crafted by Cline Cellars, a family-owned winery known for its commitment to sustainable farming and winemaking practices, this blend is made from grapes sourced from some of the oldest vineyards in the region. It offers aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry, and plum, with hints of spice and vanilla. On the palate, it is full-bodied and lush, with flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, and espresso, balanced by smooth tannins and a long, luxurious finish. Cline Ancient Vines Red Blend is a versatile wine that pairs well with a wide range of dishes, from grilled meats to pasta with rich sauces, making it a favorite choice for any occasion.

Groth 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon shows off a beautiful dark cherry color in the glass with aroma notes of plums, dried cherries, and toasted hazelnuts. The mouthfeel is round and juicy with firm full tannins, rich fruit flavors of huckleberry and a dried cherry sweetness fade into the warm spicy finish with hints of blackberry.

Critical Acclaim

JS 93

James Suckling

A balanced and beautiful red with chili, black currants and blackberry character. Full body, round and firm tannins and a long, long finish. A beautiful Groth. Drink or hold.

WW 93

Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

One of the great wines from one of the Napa Valley’s ripest and most balanced vintages, the 2012 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% satisfying from start to finish. The wine shows loads of red and blue fruits in the flavors, a touch of oak and excellent firmness in the finish. Pair with a medium rare filet mignon and enjoy. Drinking pretty well now. (Tasted: May 9, 2016, San Francisco, CA)

WE 91

Wine Enthusiast

This structured wine is lithe and ethereal in dried herb and cranberry, with a hint of pencil lead. Puckering tannins suggest aging through 2020, to draw out the more succulent layers of black cherry and plum.

A computer screen shot of a wine label

Description automatically generated with low confidenceThe 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon shows off a beautiful dark cherry color in the glass with aroma notes of plums, dried cherries, and toasted hazelnuts. The mouthfeel is round and juicy with firm full tannins, rich fruit flavors of huckleberry and a dried cherry sweetness fade into the warm spicy finish with hints of blackberry.

Vina Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

All of these vineyards produce Cabernet Sauvignon with an overall balance of expressive flavors and structure. All the blocks were picked in the early morning to ensure quality and integrity of the berries. The fruit was further sorted at our state-of-the-art winery, gently destemmed, optically berry sorted and crushed into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Pump overs took place regularly to enhance color and help extract tannins from the skin. The wine was aged in French, American and Hungarian oak barrels for added nuances and complexity. After 8 months of aging and extensive blending trials, a bit of Petit Verdot was added to enhance structure. The final blend was then aged in barrels for an additional 12 months to fully integrate before bottling.

The fruit for our 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon was selected from three of our estate vineyards in Paso Robles – Creston Valley, Huerhuero and Bear Valley. Huerhuero Vineyard, in the hilly terrain between the El Pomar and Geneseo Districts, benefits from the moderating Pacific breezes and limiting calcareous subsoils. Creston Valley Vineyard has picture perfect high terrain, southern exposure and shallow soils with noticeable granulated limestone. Bear Valley Vineyard is located 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean and has high elevations, which produces small, flavorful berries.

Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Winemaker Notes

For over a century, the Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has defined the unique character of Napa Valley. This elegant and balanced wine expresses velvety layers of blackberry, ripe plum, and chocolate. 

Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono, 2% Malbec

Critical Acclaim

94 James Suckling

Plenty of blackcurrant with dark chocolate and coffee character. It’s full-bodied, yet the tannins are succulent and rather weightless, giving a velvety texture at the end. So delicious now. Hard to wait. In fact, not necessary. Drink or hold.

92 Wine Spectator

A polished and inviting style, with warm cassis and gently mulled plum fruit flavors gliding through atop pretty mocha, singed vanilla and loam accents, while a gentle savory echo adds range through the finish. Approachable now, but there’s no rush. Drink now.

90 Wine Enthusiast

Approachable in style and affordable in price, this wine impresses in its offerings of dried cherry, plum and tobacco, the oak toasted and well-integrated into the mix. Expansive and full-bodied on the palate, it has length and breadth and is enjoyable young.

90 Wine & Spirits

This wine needs some time in a decanter to move from char to cherry, giving up the black-walnut scents of its oak for clean, rich dimensions of fruit. The tannins end on bitter chocolate, for roast beef. Best Buy

Flowers Pinot Noir Rosé

This Rose of Pinot Noir is elegant and distinct, with bright notes and an uplifting acidity reminiscent of our signature, coastal expressiveness.

Elegant and distinct, with aromas of peach, strawberry and subtle hints of rose petal. Bursts of fresh citrus colorfully drive the palate and are balanced with flavors of nectarine and stone fruit. A silky entrance coupled with fresh and uplifting acidity leaves you with our signature coastal expressiveness.

Flowers Winery

From the initial plantings more than 30 years ago, Flowers Vineyards & Winery has been inspired and defined by the Sonoma Coast.

Among the first to see the potential for growing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay along the fog-shrouded Pacific Ocean, we have refined our understanding of our estate properties with each passing vintage. Sometimes referred to as the “far” Sonoma Coast, our rugged, windswept vineyards represent extreme viticulture in the pursuit of crafting wines representative of time and place.

Working in agricultural isolation on the edge of the coast, just north of the town of Jenner, is done with a very specific goal in mind…to present a pure expression of one of the world’s truly exceptional places to make wine. Our organic practices emphasize our approach as stewards of the land, resulting in healthier vines and higher quality soils. Our commitment to stewardship along with our organic and biodynamic farming practices have been unwavering constants of our winemaking philosophy since our inception.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon

91 Points Wine Enthusiast

From a blend of beautiful sites across the valley, including Arcadia Vineyard in Coombsville and Rancho Chimiles in Wooden Valley, as well as small amounts of grapes from S.L.V. and Fay, this wine is inviting in dense aromas of red fruit, caramel and brioche. With dashes of Petit Verdot and Malbec, it finishes on accents of tobacco and cedar.

Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon

Nothing matters more to Austin Hope than family and winemaking. And for Austin, nothing embodies those quite like Paso Robles.

Growing up amongst the grapevines of his family’s vineyards, Austin spent his formative years studying the science and craft of both, in California and in the Rhone region of France. It wasn’t until 2017, after years of exploration and fine tuning his craft, that Austin felt he could create something that encapsulated the essential elements of Paso Robles. Austin realized this vision when he released a Cabernet Sauvignon under his Austin Hope label. The sources of the wine are far-reaching within the appellation – a most discerning group of vineyards located on gently sloping hillsides and hidden pockets across the domain, providing unique dimensions to the Cabernet varietal. Each dimension tells a distinctive part of the story of our unique and wondrous region.

Today, Austin’s obsession has evolved to showcase an even greater sweep of Paso Robles, expressing a life dedicated to growing grapes and making Paso wines. Nothing makes Austin more proud than crafting a wine that captures the inspiring essence of Paso Robles.

Previous Vintage received 95 point from Wine enthusiast and was #7 on the top 100 for 2020.

In Stock Now $59.99

Hess Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon

The combination of steady heat and well-drained clay loam soils in our Allomi Vineyard allows fruit to ripen evenly, gaining welcomed complexity and layers of flavor. We consistently see beautiful yields from the Allomi Vineyard, and this vintage was no different. On the nose, this wine delivers delicious aromas of boysenberry, blackberry and elegant expressions of lavender alongside a touch of vanilla. Allomi Cabernet is concentrated upon entry with dense, but well-integrated tannin’s that provide a round, plush mouthfeel. Layers of juicy black fruit, notably black cherry and black plum, lead to elements of espresso supported by a subtle oak spice that adds to the personality of the wine and reminds us why this is one of our most popular Napa offerings.

92 Points James Suckling

A fruity Cabernet with currant, black-cherry and berry aromas and flavors. Medium-to full-bodied with soft tannins and a juicy finish. Yummy now. Drink or hold.

In stock now $34.99

Critical Acclaim 96 Points!

Winemaker Notes

The 2018 vintage was characterized by a warm climate. The nose of this white wine offers notes of chamomile, accompanied with a savory palate of delicate vanilla and butter sensations which transition gracefully into hints of tropical fruit.

Critical Acclaim RP 96

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Compared to the 2017 vintage that shows a more accessible and full-bodied style, the 2018 Cervaro della Sala is a classic edition—it’s about as classic as I have ever tasted this landmark white from Umbria to be. This cooler vintage prizes finesse and elegance, and those traits are matched by efforts in the winery to accomplish that same goal. On many levels, the 2018 vintage opens a new chapter for Cervaro della Sala, with a stronger emphasis on preserved lemon, crisp pear and crushed mineral. The wine offers beautiful freshness and linearity. I must also mention that this vintage is released while the fruit is still a bit closed or shy. That slightly reductive approach bodes very well for the wine’s future evolution.

W&S 95

Wine & Spirits

The moderate 2018 growing season yielded a Cervaro of outstanding vivacity and balance. Barrel-fermented chardonnay comprises the majority of the blend, contributing a sleek texture as well as notes of toasted hazelnut and vanilla bean that enrich the crisp apple and pear flavors. A small percentage of stainless-steel-aged grechetto adds fresh acidity to balance the wine’s subtle spice and gingery warmth. Delicious now for its combination of richness and verve, this wine will be even better in a couple of years, as the flavors continue to integrate.

Taylor Fladgate Vintage 2016 Port

Deep purple black with a narrow magenta rim. High notes of pure, intense woodland fruit with lively accents of green apple, fresh plum and raspberry. Around this core of bright, singing fruit is a heady aura of gumcistus and wild herbs. On a deeper register, exotic notes of cedarwood and jasmine provide an additional dimension of complexity. The wine has an attractive leanness and muscularity with sinewy, linear tannins that integrate seamlessly into the mid palate and then re-emerge to hold the wine in a confident grip. Energised by a racy acidity, the intense berry flavors continue to build into the long finish. Although the keynotes are refinement and poise, the wine displays the restrained vigour and stamina that are the hallmarks of the Taylor Fladgate style.

OMG. This is really the most amazing young Taylor Fladgate I have ever tasted. Full-bodied and lightly sweet with super power and intensity. So racy and focused. Yet this has such muscle and intensity. Needs at least eight years to show you everything it has to offer. Drink in 2025.

Score: 100

29-05-2018

James Suckling

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

Walnuts, blue veined and other richly flavored cheeses are excellent accompaniments to Vintage Port; so too are dried fruits such as apricots or figs.