Drink the Bottles

  Underground Cellar Delivered More Than We Expected: Our First Mystery Red Wine Purchase One of the best parts of being a wine enthusiast is discovering bottles you may never have picked up on your own. Whether it's an unfamiliar producer, a hidden gem from a renowned region, or a wine that simply wasn't on your radar, there's something exciting about expanding your palate through new experiences. That's one of the reasons Underground Cellar immediately caught our attention. Before we begin, we'd like to be transparent with our readers. Underground Cellar recently partnered with Drink The Bottles and provided us with a promotional code that covered the cost of this order in exchange for editorial and social media coverage. Although we did not purchase this shipment out of pocket, the collection we selected retailed for $29 per bottle —a total of $174 for six bottles—and our experience reflects exactly what a customer would have received through the same promotion...

Five generations. Historic vineyards. A family committed to preserving Napa Valley. And three wines that tell a remarkable story.  But this story is not only about the wines. Some wineries make exceptional wine.  A select few become part of the history of the place they call home.  Ghost Block Estate Wines belongs to that rare group. When three bottles from Ghost Block arrived at Drink The Bottles—the 2019 BW9 Red Blend , the 2022 Ghost Block Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon , and the 2024 Elizabeth Rose Pinot Noir —I knew I was receiving something special.  But what I didn't expect was the story behind the labels. Because before there was a bottle of wine, there was a family. Before there was a vineyard, there was a commitment to the land.  And before Napa Valley became one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world, families like the Pelissas were quietly planting roots, farming the soil, and helping shape the future of California wine.  The wines are...

  The Schlatter family has owned Merryvale Vineyards for about three decades and this property is rich in history.  The iconic winery was the first winery built in Napa after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.  The European and Bordeaux-inspired wines are the heart of the brand, resulting in rich and luscious Cabernet Sauvignons.  That is certainly the case here with the  2021 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley . Smaller yields were the result of a second year of drought in Napa Valley, creating more robust flavors and highly concentrated wines.  Overall, the 2021 vintage is highly rated with exceptional wines.  This wine is raisin colored with eggplant streaks.  Juicy blackberry, dried spices, stewed plum and flower bouquet on the nose.  The full bodied mouthfeel is immediately noticeable with solid tannins and balanced flavors of black cherry, tomato leaf, clove, blackberry and freshly sawn cedar plank.   This wine spent 16 ...

  The history behind PEJU Winery is absolutely mesmerizing and one that you will never tire of hearing.  It's a man with a dream, a vision and determination.   Tony Peju moved his family from Los Angeles to Rutherford and began selling his young wines out of a garage.  Throughout the years, a formal tasting room is added, additional vineyards, the iconic tower is built and the adult children join the winery full time.  While Tony passed away in 2023, he leaves a legacy and his footprint on Napa Valley wine.  Tony is often regarded as the father of Direct to Consumer (DTC) Wine Marketing. The 2023 Peju Winery Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is another stunning example of organically farmed fruit from winemaker Sara Fowler.  Fowler is celebrating her 20th vintage with PEJU this year and you can feel the love and terroir in every bottle.   Dark purple-black in color with swelling aromas of blackberry jam, blackcurrant, ...

  Whether you have heard of Spring Mountain Vineyard or not, it's a magical place with a storied history and a bright future.  With over 150 years of adventures under their care, this winery actually placed fourth in the "Judgement of Paris" international wine competition in 1976.  It's not too often that we get to taste a wine that has been bottled for over a decade, so we are honored to bring this gift to you today. We should start by stating that Spring Mountain Vineyard has one of the most extensive wine libraries not only in Saint Helena, but all of Napa Valley.  They have several tasting experiences available including wines from the last three decades.  This is a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience for the oenophile who has "done it all".   The 2013 Spring Mountain Vineyard Elivette Napa Valley Red Wine features estate fruit and is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Merlot (10%), Petit Verdot (8%), and Malbec ...

To say we were excited to try the elusive Cabneret Sauvignon from Meteor Vineyard would be a serious understatement.  We have heard about this small but mighty producer for many years, but to be quite frank, it's hard to find this wine!  Barry and Tracy Schuler purchased the Coombville property in 1998, recognizing that the lush volcanic soil and elevation was absolutely perfect to grow 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Of course, 100% Cab always has a big place in our hearts! The 2019 Meteor Vineyard Preseid Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a big, bold, expressive wine and everything you want and need from a Napa Valley Cab.  Juicy ripe blackberries, cassis and black plum on the nose against a gorgeous deep garnet color.  Blackberry cobbler, graphite, mocha and vanilla on the palate with a pleasant and lingering oaky finish.  This is wine is (insert bad word here) incredible!  This will age easily for the next decade and beyond.   ABV:  ...

  40 Years of Leadership: Kim Stare Wallace Celebrates Four Decades at Dry Creek Vineyard Second-Generation President Reflects on Legacy, Innovation, and Commitment to Place   HEALDSBURG, Calif. (February 11, 2026) – In an industry defined by constant change, longevity has become increasingly rare. Today, Kim Stare Wallace marks 40 years at Dry Creek Vineyard, a milestone that reflects the enduring power of family ownership, thoughtful leadership and an unwavering commitment to Dry Creek Valley.   “In four decades, I’ve seen the wine industry evolve in remarkable ways,” says Wallace. “But our focus has remained the same: to make wines that honestly express where they come from. That kind of clarity only comes from taking the long view.”   Wallace formally joined Dry Creek Vineyard in 1986 as Director of Marketing, though her roots at the winery run much deeper. Raised in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, she grew up alongside the winery founded by her father, Da...

  If you threw a dart at the map of Napa Valley and hit the center, you would find Rutherford Ranch Winery.  Located on the historic and famous Silverado Trail at the site of the original Round Hill Winery, it has now been family owned by the Zaninovich family for nearly three decades with an empasis on Cabernet Sauvignon.  They also produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot under the Rutherford label, showcasing that lovely Rutherford dust! The winemaking team has branched out into a total of seven labels, all with their own uniqueness and price points.  But today we are discussing the  2019 Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley .  Before we get into the details of this wine, we will say that this is one (as well as other stellar vintages) will age well for a very, very long time.  If you're considering this wine, consider multiple bottles.  We think this will continue to flourish and develop for the next 10-plus years. Dar...

  As we write this, I can't begin to tell you how giddy we are about the experience we had with this wine.  The  2022 DAOU Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles was something we were looking forward to tasting, but there was no way we could have anticipated how incredible this is - and the price is as attactive as the label! There are so many layers of both aromas and flavors leaping from this bottle.  Stunning dark garnet color to the edge of the glass.  Ripe berry pie, red licorice, sage, rosemary, vanilla extract and dark chocolate fought for center stage on the nose.   We did not decant, but constant swirling brough additional aromas of cherry cola and hints of clove.   The first taste brought us a huge fruit basket of flavors up front, joined by a grass field covered in morning mist, smoky cedar plank and semi-sweet chocolate bits.  The wine was absolutely mouth coating and provided smiles on our faces as the day was lon...

  Napa Valley has been on our mind a lot these days with the Pickett Fire still burning.  Although 90% contained, at this writing the fire has been burning about 2 weeks.  There has been much discussion and speculation already about grape taint from the smoke, as was the case for many wineries that experienced repurcussions from the 2020 Glass Fire.  Fingers crossed for all! The  2019 Pope Valley Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a nearly textbook example of what we are looking for in a Napa Valley Cab.  Dark blackberry color in the glass, this wine has lifting aromas of blue and red raspberries, star anise, beef steak tomato and hints of blackcurrant.  This expression is unctuous, providing a lush and mouth-coating experience from beginning to end.  More dark fruits, freshly sawn timber, wisps of vanilla curd, dry earth, dried herbs and leather. This wine is another example of the talents of winemaker Michael Coode and a nod to Napa Valley....