Quintessa Red Blend is made from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon 2% Merlot 3% Cabernet Franc 2% Carmenere 1% Petit Verdot .
The 2018 Quintessa is a wine of perfect harmony, with deep flavors and elegant layers that are apparent even from a young age. Intense aromas of cassis, black cherry, and raspberry intermingle with savory notes of sage and thyme; the 2018 Quintessa continues to unfold as notes of dark chocolate, graphite and fresh tobacco mingle with the fresh fruit.Precise and dense, the wine shows supple tannin that play with flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, and crushed rocks. The 2018 Quintessa has a perfect balance of fresh acidity followed by bright fruit and minerality at the finish that portends unparalleled aging potential.
Reviews:
This is beautifully polished with firm, dusty tannins to the blue fruit, as well as chocolate and cedar character. Some much earthier character, too, from mushrooms to bark. Forest flowers. Perfumed. It’s full-bodied with round tannins and a soft, creamy finish. Some iron and iodine to this. So attractive at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes.
-James Suckling 99 Points
Gigondas offers a rich bouquet, with fine, fruity and spicy aromas and a sunny color ranging from ruby to dark garnet. The nose reveals a bouquet of red fruits and very ripe black fruits. On the palate, the Gigondas is full-bodied with a fleshy attack. The Grenache Noir releases all the expression of its power in this shimmering red wine with marked tannins, a structured body and a great aptitude for aging. Syrah and Mourvèdre reinforce their garnet color and spice up their aromas.
Review:
- Wine Enthusiast , Anna Lee C. Iijima 94 Points
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Red Phoenix Red Blend is made from 57% Zinfandel; 14% Petit Verdot; 12% Petite Sirah; 7% Syrah; 5% Merlot; 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
With European origins dating back centuries ago, blended red wine is once again having its day in the sun. Red Phoenix Red Wine Blend represents the essence of this well-deserved resurgence. Unbound by a single varietal or appellation, and given more flexibility with vintages, winemaker Joseph Smith skillfully showcases six distinct varietals in this luscious and layered wine. Unlike traditional red blends, Red Phoenix is both barrel aged and barrel fermented, adding structure, balance, and a new dimension to a wine that is rooted in tradition and soars on the palate.
APPELLATION
75% of the fruit is coming from Lodi AVA, while the remaining 25% are Napa Valley AVA's fruits.
Coastal aromas of fresh fruit and lush florals coupled with a deep ruby color intrigue the senses. Bright, bold flavors of cherry and blackberry ascend on the palate while showcasing subtle, smooth tannins. The wine crescendos with anise, chocolate and toasted oak, offering depth and complexity, as velvety flavors continue to linger and evolve throughout the long, rich finish.
Review:
"This rich, velvety, mature and full-bodied wine was made from 93°/o Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated blackberry and blueberry flavors are generously accented by milk chocolate. While rather tannic, the mouthfeel is full but not tight. -J.G. "
- Wine Enthusiast (November 2022), 90 pts
Red Phoenix Red Blend is made from 57% Zinfandel; 14% Petit Verdot; 12% Petite Sirah; 7% Syrah; 5% Merlot; 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
With European origins dating back centuries ago, blended red wine is once again having its day in the sun. Red Phoenix Red Wine Blend represents the essence of this well-deserved resurgence. Unbound by a single varietal or appellation, and given more flexibility with vintages, winemaker Joseph Smith skillfully showcases six distinct varietals in this luscious and layered wine. Unlike traditional red blends, Red Phoenix is both barrel aged and barrel fermented, adding structure, balance, and a new dimension to a wine that is rooted in tradition and soars on the palate.
APPELLATION
75% of the fruit is coming from Lodi AVA, while the remaining 25% are Napa Valley AVA's fruits.
Coastal aromas of fresh fruit and lush florals coupled with a deep ruby color intrigue the senses. Bright, bold flavors of cherry and blackberry ascend on the palate while showcasing subtle, smooth tannins. The wine crescendos with anise, chocolate and toasted oak, offering depth and complexity, as velvety flavors continue to linger and evolve throughout the long, rich finish.
Review:
"This rich, velvety, mature and full-bodied wine was made from 93°/o Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated blackberry and blueberry flavors are generously accented by milk chocolate. While rather tannic, the mouthfeel is full but not tight. -J.G. "
- Wine Enthusiast (November 2022), 90 pts
Intense ruby red color with purple tints.
On the nose, the wine shows some intense notes of red fruits, especially cherry and slight hints of oak.
In the mouth, it has a good structure, great softness and it is pleasant to drink. Predominant notes of red fruits, with slight spiciness.
Pair with first courses with game, grilled meats, fresh and aged cheeses such as pecorino.
Rinaldi Brachetto d' Acqui is made from 100% Brachetto d'Acqui
The skin gives the wine its particular scent and flavor.
Light ruby red color. The bouquet is musky and delicate with scents of ripe red fruit (strawberry, blackberry) and roses. Sweet and smooth flavors with lingering aromatic persistence. There is a good balance between the sweetness and the freshness, which makes this wine very pleasant.
The training system used is Guyot with a density of 2500-3000 vines per hectare. Manual harvest. Temperature controlled maceration for approximately seven days with mechanic plunging of the cap and pumping over to increase extraction of substances from the skins. This is the most important part of the vinification. Soft pressing.
Rinaldi Celle Piemonte Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Intense red color with purple reflections. The characteristic aroma is pleasant and dominated by notes of blackberry, plum and black currant. A short passage in wood gives it elegance and complexity.
Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Red Blend is made from 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot.
Robert Mondavi’s vision was to elevate Napa to the world stage. In celebration of his achievement, our Napa Tier wines are sourced from distinctive vineyards throughout the Napa Valley and truly emulate a classic Napa Valley style.
Nearly half of this year’s blend is sourced from the deep, well-drained soils of Oakville, which provides gorgeously dark, supple wines with fine tannins. Stags Leap District, Oak Knoll, Yountville, and Rutherford also find their place in the bottle, with the varying mesoclimates and soils of these vineyards integrating seamlessly into a 100% Napa Valley blend.
Review:
"Dominated by 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of the other Bordeaux red grapes, this wine speaks of heritage and prestige. Broad, silky, and powerful, the graceful liquid is enhanced by dark chocolate, white pepper, black plum, violets, and sweet earth."
-Meridith May, Tasting Panel, January/February 2023 Pts. Tasting Panel
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Romariz 20 Years Old Tawny is rich, warm and well balanced. Concentrated, firm tannins. Aromas of hazelnuts and walnuts, raisin, honey, caramel and dark chocolate notes. Excellent with desserts, cheese or by itself at the end of a meal.
Romariz Pink Port is from a blend of red grapes port is the beautiful deep pink color extracted. Then rose postage, like white port, vinified without the skins. Despite Romariz not the Fonseca label bears, this port by a team led by David Guimaraens. The grapes after pressing 7 days sur lie cold fermented. This slow fermentation, which lasts twice as long as usual, brings a delicious berry hurry up and crisp, bright and airy style that is so characteristic of Romariz Pink Rose Port.
Aromatic fruit aromas of raspberries and currants with floral tones. Full, fruity taste with ripe cherries and raspberries and notes of honey and of course grapes. Modern, bright and airy style.
Romariz Pink Rose Port is a delicious appetizer with a lump of ice, but can also be combined well with fruit desserts. Furthermore, this port is an interesting combination as long drink with tonic and a slice of lemon.
Flowering in the Duoro occurred in the last 10 days of May. The weather conditions provided for a perfect flowering season. The Romariz Vintage Port 2003 yielded wines of great color and supple tannins, with a vintage stamp being evident in most wines. Production: 8,000 cases. "Another bright and fruity young Vintage Port with plum, grape and blackberry aromas with just a hint of stems. Serious nose here. Full-bodied, with soft, round tannins and a long, caressing finish. A beauty."
- J.S., Wine Spectator, 89-91 pts
"Bright dark ruby. Deep, perfumed aromas of cassis, licorice, violet and minerals. Lush and high-toned in the mouth but with very good vinosity and spine. Lovely fruit-driven flavors of black cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate. Little sign of the roasted side of 2003. Not hugely concentrated but suave, supple, minerally and sweet. Finishes with ripe tannins and very good spicy persistence. A very good showing. Accessible already but balanced for medium-term aging."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 89 pts
"Opaque ruby. A complex, beautifully structured wine from Europe’s hot summer of 2003. Lively spicy, toasted aromas and a ripe and generous palate with layers of rich, dense flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, tobacco, spice box and a hint of marmalade. Finishes dry and long with still firm tannins. A delicious Port that should be paired with Roquefort and other blue cheeses."
- International Wine Review (Succulent Sweet Wines for the Holidays: The Best of 2018), 92 pts
Romariz White Port is a blend of wines from the Arinto, Boal, Codega, Esagna CAO, Folgasao, Gouveio, Viosinho, and Rabigato grapes grown in the Douro. This is aged in oak for three years. Aromas of fruit cocktail, round and full, orange-nutty undertone, strong flavored and sweet. Refreshing summertime drink on ice.
FOOD MATCH: Served alone for after-dinner sipping.
Rombauer Vineyards Proprietor Selection Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Proprietor Selection is a reserve Chardonnay produced only in exceptional vintages by blending the best barrels from the finest lots. The 2020 represents the 14th vintage in 41 years. Like all of our Chardonnays, this wine comes from Carneros where the cool climate and clay soils offer ideal growing conditions for the varietal.
This wine comes from elite vineyards in the Carneros region owned by the Rombauer family and select growers including the Sangiacomo family, long-term grower partners who have farmed this land for three generations
A beautiful pale yellow, there are multifaceted layers of aromas including caramelized pineapple, lemon rind, baked green apple, toast, and vanilla. The densely concentrated palate features notes of powerful stone fruit, floral honey, baking spice, and vanilla, all building, with a fresh, mouthwatering acidity, to a long and lingering finish.
The Royal Shiraz Cabernet is made from 50% Shiraz, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
The Royal Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon borrows its name from a grand old hotel in Riebeek Kasteel. It is the oldest hotel in the Western Cape; a beloved fixture of the area.
Juicy and fruity, rich and ripe in style with blackberry, blackcurrant and spice flavors, subtle vanilla and black pepper. Smooth and well-balanced with a lingering finish of berries, spice and beautifully integrated oak.
Pairs well with red meat, especially classic recipes like roasted leg of lamb, grilled lamb chops and beef kebabs, game, duck, pasta and cheese.
The Royal Shiraz Cabernet is made from 50% Shiraz, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
The Royal Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon borrows its name from a grand old hotel in Riebeek Kasteel. It is the oldest hotel in the Western Cape; a beloved fixture of the area.
Juicy and fruity, rich and ripe in style with blackberry, blackcurrant and spice flavors, subtle vanilla and black pepper. Smooth and well-balanced with a lingering finish of berries, spice and beautifully integrated oak.
Pairs well with red meat, especially classic recipes like roasted leg of lamb, grilled lamb chops and beef kebabs, game, duck, pasta and cheese.
This California Cabernet Sauvignon has rich flavors with a hint of black currant and cherry. The tannins are soft, leading to a smooth finish with a hint of oaked vanilla and a touch of eucalyptus/mint freshness.
100% California AVA Cabernet Sauvignon.
Average age of the vines: 15 years.
Picked at premium ripeness. Fermented in static tanks with pump-overs three times per day.
Aged five months French oak Barrels.
Alcohol: 13.5%
RS 0.5 g/l
TA 5.7 g/l
Serve this deep purple hued beauty with a variety of hearty dishes ranging from Osso Bucco to grilled red meats and cheeses.
Rubus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is made from 100 percent Napa Valley Cabernet
Its long finish displays full mature flavors of blackberry, currant and chocolate with just a hint of toasty oak and black cherry. The tannins are refined and polished, allowing the fruit to be the focus.
The Rubus Project was created by Fran Kysela as a way to source & sell incredible wines at value prices. All wines in this international project are hand-selected by Fran Kysela. Rubus wines are fruit driven, true-to-type values that over deliver - a true representation of quality for the consumer at an excellent price.
Rubus Reserve Pinot Noir is sourced from Carneros, Napa Valley. It shows complexity with raspberry and cherry notes that dance on the tongue.
Arzuaga Ladera del Norte Ribera del Duero is made from 100% Tempranillo.
The grapes come from organic crops and are harvested from the "Valdesardon" farm, owned by the Arzuaga Navarro family, which is the westernmost vineyard of the Ribera del Duero DO, located at an altitude of 800 meters in the village of Olivares de Duero. Clay-limestone soil on a hillside that will mark the characteristics of the wine.
The wine is of medium high intensity in color, a clear and bright cherry with purple flashes. An array of red fruits such as raspberry and cherry predominates with a high aromatic intensity, combining with balsamic tones, coffee and roasted notes coming from the aging in oak barrels without being overwhelming. This is a fresh and elegant wine, with an easy and balanced entry into the mouth followed by juicy and chewy sensations. Slightly sweet and toasted notes, and a pleasant and balanced aftertaste that is reminiscent of the fruity aromas on the nose.
Ideal companion for red meat, white meat, game and game, roasted or in sauce. Blue fish and soft cheeses.
Review:
"Intense cherry color. Aromas of dried herbs, creamy oak, black fruits and lactic notes. In the mouth, ripe fruits, spices, fine tannins, full-bodied."
- Penin 2022, 92 pts
Michel Thomas Sancerre Blanc Silex is 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc.
Intensely aromatic and concentrated Sauvignon from the Silex soils, this is a wine of great concentration and excellent balance. Aromas of fresh herbs, with flavors of citrus, ripe gooseberry, apple and a hint of gunflint. A delicious apéritif and the classic match for goat cheese or asparagus.
The special bottling "Silex" is limited each year to between 400-500 cases. They grow grapes on three soil types: 40% Terre Blanche-Argilo-Calcaire, 40% Caillottes-calcaire, 20% Le Roc-Silex. This wine come from the hardest stone soil on the vineyard giving it pleasant notes of fruit and a very dry flavor: This wine is bottled using traditional methods without filtration, allowing for a authentic and natural taste to the wine.
A delicious apéritif and the classic match for goat cheese or asparagus.