retail cost: $51 +

Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée 2015

95
Gloria Ferrer
Fanciful Name: Royal Cuvée
Varietal: Champagne Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Carneros
Retail Price: $65.00

Tasting Notes: The Royal Cuvée with a blend of 2/3 pinot noir, and 1/3 chardonnay enjoys an extended time in bottle for its secondary fermentation, resulting in wonderful complexity and a delicate mousse. The nose and palate reveal lots of apple and citrus notes, as well as bight, clean fruit in the mouth. The finish is very long and quite expressive.
Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée 2015

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Rex Hill Pinot Noir 2017

95
Rex Hill
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Willamette Valley
Retail Price: $75.00

Tasting Notes: Elegant, with dusty tannins, this wine is worth every dime. Blue and black fruit over cedar, baking spices, cherries and mushrooms make this complex pinot a perfect partner for grilled salmon.
Rex Hill Pinot Noir 2017

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Caymus-Suisun Petite Sirah Grand Durif 2020

94
Caymus-Suisun
Fanciful Name: Grand Durif
Varietal: Petite Sirah
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Suisun Valley
Retail Price: $59.99

Tasting Notes: This is a super-dark, almost-inky wine in color with a very sumptuous plum and cherry cola palate. The finish has soft tannic notes that are mature and not overwhelming. This wine would be really food friendly but also easily drinkable on its own.
Caymus-Suisun Petite Sirah Grand Durif 2020

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Slate Theory Montepulciano 2019

96
Slate Theory
Varietal: Montepulciano
Vintage: 2019
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Texas High Plains
Retail Price: $59.99

Tasting Notes: One of the new releases from this up-and-coming winery. This is a really big wine that showcases their varietal approach using old world varietals from Italy for this effort. New and neutral French oak adds subtle smoothness to compliment rich black fruit and vanilla notes
Slate Theory Montepulciano 2019

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Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

96
Sequoia Grove
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Napa Valley
Retail Price: $55.00

Tasting Notes: Using a combination of fruit from some of the region's top vineyards, in addition to estate fruit, the quality of the wine is apparent from the start. In the glass, the bright-red color is nearly opaque. The nose and palate exhibit lots of appealing dark fruit, with spice notes. The wine is very full bodied, with a long finish.
Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

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Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

96
Abeja
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2018
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Retail Price: $64.99

Tasting Notes: Mostly cabernet, with some merlot, a bit of cabernet franc and petit verdot added in, this wine is a dense, brilliant red. The nose is dominated by dark red fruit, with an intriguing baked spice aspect. With plenty of weight on the palate, the finish is quite lengthy and well balanced.
Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

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Foley Estates Pinot Noir 2021

97
Foley Estates
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2021
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills
Retail Price: $61.00

Tasting Notes: A wonderful example of Central Coast pinot noir, balancing rich fruit with acidity and elegance. Brilliant dark ruby, the nose and palate share a common thread of bright and slightly spicy red fruit. The finish lingers for quite some time, with notes of warm spice.
Foley Estates Pinot Noir 2021

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Bending Branch Winery Tannat 2019

98
Bending Branch Winery
Varietal: Tannat
Vintage: 2019
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Texas
Retail Price: $59.99

Tasting Notes: Dr. Robert Young brings a decidedly scientific approach to the art of Texas winemaking utilizing cyro maceration, whole-berry fermentation and flash détente to highlight his signature varietal: tannat. Rich and bone dry, almost chalky with strong minerality. Black fruit notes add to the deep-inky coloring. Smooth lingering finish makes a perfect pairing for a thick rib-eye right off the grill.
Bending Branch Winery Tannat 2019

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Domaine Marguerite Carillon Pinot Noir 2020

96
Domaine Marguerite Carillon
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Volnay 1er Cru
Retail Price: $84.99

Tasting Notes: Flavors of black cherry and pomegranate flow through the velvet palate with notes of violets and wildflowers. The mid-palate offers notes of forest floor, fresh meadow flowers and just a whiff of anise that flows into a finish of wild berries, sandalwood and fresh herbs.
Domaine Marguerite Carillon Pinot Noir 2020

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Les Fillottes Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

97
Les Fillottes
Varietal: Red Bordeaux Blend
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Pomerol
Retail Price: $88.79

Tasting Notes: The wine shows bright, juicy red cherries and raspberries that sink into a beautifully plush palate. The midpalate becomes gorgeously creamy while continuing to show red fruit, while also adding notes of violets and rose petals with hints of mocha. The finish is long and tantalizing with whiffs of white herbs, sage and a dusty minerality.
Les Fillottes Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

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Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red Bordeaux Blend La Réserve de Pessac-Léognan 2017

98
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Fanciful Name: La Réserve de Pessac-Léognan
Varietal: Red Bordeaux Blend
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Pessac-Léognan
Retail Price: $121.99

Tasting Notes: Dynamic flavors of black cherry, pomegranate and wild berries burst into a medley of rose petals and juicy dark fruits with freshly picked herbs wafting through the core. The finish shows notes of tea leaf, sandalwood and vanilla bean.
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red Bordeaux Blend La Réserve de Pessac-Léognan 2017

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Nicolas Joly Chenin Blanc Les Vieux Clos 2019

97
Nicolas Joly
Fanciful Name: Les Vieux Clos
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Vintage: 2019
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Savennières
Retail Price: $75.00

Tasting Notes: This is not your everyday sipper. Organic and made from select ancient vines. Complex, with honeyed stone fruits laden with zesty citrus and light spice. Fresh almond and flint with a creamy texture and long lush finish. It should age well for at least 10 years. Enjoy with seared curried scallops.
Nicolas Joly Chenin Blanc Les Vieux Clos 2019

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