Go Big or Go Home (for the Holidays)

This weekend we are opening a collection of wines from our Holiday Catalog, including some of our biggest and boldest wines in the shop. Come in for a tasting of Bordeaux and Rhone style reds and a trio of Tawny ports. While you're here grab a gift for yourself (okay, and a loved one) this season.

Holiday Hours
Taste hours: Friday to Sunday | 2 - 6pm
Shop hours: Tuesday to Sunday | 1 - 6pm

Prices listed below are: (Regular price / 10% case discount price )

Open at the Tasting Bar this Weekend

2021 Stewart Cellars Chardonnay ($37 / $33.3).  I am not supposed to like oaky buttery Chardonnays because Instagram and my young tattooed winemaking friends all say so. But let’s ignore them for a moment. The team at Stewart is proud to make this single vineyard Chardonnay, barrel fermented, and aged 10 months in French barrique. If Rombauer is a 13 on the oaky/buttery spectrum, I give this one a perfect 10. There’s surely an oaky buttery guest invited, so don’t leave them hanging.

2021 Westgate Cabernet Franc ($38 / $34.2).  Kevin Law’s university degrees in aeronautics and physics led him to winemaking (of course) in Santa Barbara wine county, fueled by a passion for amazing, site specific Pinot, Chardonnay, and a few Bordeaux reds. This single vineyard Franc hails from Curtis Vineyards in Santa Ynez that is warm enough to ripen Rhone reds. The result of this Bordeaux grape in Rhone territory is bright red fruit, smooth oak tannins and dried mint, while the not very subtle signature of green pepper comes together in perfect harmony.

2018 Calluna Vineyards Cuveé ($34 / $30.6).  David Jeffrey gave up everything on the East Coast, moved West to attend wine school, and then started a vineyard and winery from scratch in the mountains of Sonoma. Full stop, that’s the most California wine story we’ve ever heard! Calluna makes only estate grown wines and their ‘CVC’ is a Merlot dominated red, inspired by Bordeaux blends and balanced with a minerally profile and dark, ripe intense fruit from high atop Chalk Hill AVA.

2018 Scherrer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon ($45 / $40.5).  I’m still coming to grips with something that you simply don’t see... this wine spends four years aging in barrels. Four! Fred Scherrer has been making wine for over 40 years and essentially runs the show by himself. A true craftsmen with a winemaking style that reflects the grapes and their environment, where extended barrel time for Cabs is essential. The result is pure cassis and cherry aromas with an incredibly smooth mouthfeel. I probably shouldn’t even put it in here due to tiny quantities, but it’s in here!

2019 Fontaine du Clos Castillon ($35 / $31.5).  The warm Rhone Valley yields wines of immense complexity: dark fruit, black pepper spice, and ultra smooth palates. Northeast of the famed region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the higher elevation village of Vacqueras, where bold reds with French charm can even excite California wine lovers. This family estate run by the Barnier family drew attention when we first featured it in a women winemaker tasting. Blackberries, garrigue, and a long finish.

2016 Three Wine Co. Established 1885 ($40 / $36).  Winemaker Matt Cline sources a number of wines from ancient vines planted in the sandy soils of Oakley, Contra Costa County where he has been buying grapes and making wines since the mid 1980s. He knows a thing or two about the area. Established 1885 is his dream wine, the best of the best in a reserve style bottling, including Zinfandel, Carignane, Mataro, (Mourvedre) Black Malvoisie (Cinsault) and Petite Sirah. It’s bordering on ultimate old vine geek wine status. Ethereal wild berry aromas, packed with dark cherry and a chewy powerhouse of flavors, while still light on its feet. Notice the vintage? It’s rocking right now and will please any BIG red fan. 

Quinta do Tedo Porto Fine Tawny ($25 / $22.5).  Family-owned single estate, classified grade A vineyards, foot- tread, and aged for a minimum of 7 years. It’s everything that is great about wine making and it’s perhaps the most hand crafted and tastiest wine we sell under $30. A funny thing about Port is just how much work it takes to make, yet the world no longer gives it the appreciation it deserves. Equal parts fruity, chocolatey, nutty. In a word: delicious.

Churchill’s 10 Year Tawny Porto ($44 / $39.6).  One of Port's newest members, 6th generation port producer Johhny Graham left the family business to start Churchill's in 1981. Their philisopohy is minmal intervention port making (it even says so on the bottle) from grade A vineyards, foot-tread, with minimal sulfite additions in the winery. The 10 year is still lively and fruity, with dried yellow stone fruits, cherries, and caramel.

See also their 20, 30, and 40 year Tawnys available. As these age, the fruit becomes drier and flavors more toffeed and nutty.  The 30 and 40 come in a gorgeous gift box with certificate of authenticity. 

Yalumba Antique Tawny ($24 / 21.6).  One of Australiia's leading wineries, Yalumba continues the tradition of making a 'sticky' as they are callled.  This is an old vine blend of signature Australian GSM, muscalle, and traditional port varieties. Aged an average of 12 years, their Antique Tawny wine is full of toffee, caramel, dried figs, chocolate, and hazelnut. Truly a 'sticky, mate!'