Carneros Appellation
Winery: Domaine Carneros
Suggested retail price: $45.00
Drink The Bottles score: 95/100
Carneros Appellation
Winery: Domaine Carneros
Suggested retail price: $45.00
Drink The Bottles score: 95/100
When Barb and Bart at a charity event a few decades ago, their love of wine was a bond that they shared that ultimlately led them to opening their owe winery in Napa. A quarter of a century ago the duo purchased 33 acres of prime Napa real estate and eventually they began producing Bordeaux and Burdundian styles of wines that promote their sustainably farmed vineyard. These "estate only" exclusive wines promote not only traditional styles, but also the passion that Barb and Bret share for each other after all of these years.
Today we are tasting the 2020 O'Brien Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. As one would expect, it is memorable from cork pop to the finish with it's beautiful bottle and striking darker mulberry color in the glass. Ripe berries, granite, wet stone, cigar paper and spice swim in the nose, creating a mouth-watering introduction that delivers. Dark fruit, plum, spice cabinet, pencil shavings, cedar smoke and a hint of milk chocolate dance on the tongue, creating a persistent finish against sophisticated tannins. This wine has only begun to show it's potential and we regret not decanting this prior to tasting. It is a wine that you need to add to your cellar, not only to lay down for fifteen or more years, but to prove to yourself what a fine Napa Valley Cabernet should taste like. It's beautiful!
Chehalem Mountains, OR
Production: 101 Cases
Suggested retail price: $28.00
Drink The Bottles score: 92/100
Carmel Valley, CA
Suggested retail price: $55.00
Drink The Bottles score: 92/100
We are excited to be partnering with Jack Galante and his team at Galante Vineyards again and it was a lot of fun to taste this wine. This is the 2019 Galante Vineyards Almond Flat Pinot Noir which is from estate fruit and 100% Pinot. Bright aromas of crushed strawberries and orange zest initially with mushroom and dried herb following closely. Cranberry and strawberry dominate the palate, joined by pleasant but not overpowering earthy and slightly smoky flavors leading to a long finish with modest and welcome tannin. This wine is very young and you will have many years of enjoyment. We tend to crush on wines that are estate-fruit driven and these higher altitude grapes create a memorable tasting experience with this offering. The price is right and this wine would pair very well with a herbal, roasted chicken dinner with carrots. This is absolutely lovely!
Napa Valley, CA
295 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $200.00
Drink The Bottles score: 93/100
This is quite possibly the best Brut Rosé we have tasted in a number of years! It is, without a doubt, outstanding. If you're lookin...