Tag Archives: cabernet

Dominus Estate – Best Ever? April 2019

The Best Ever Dominus?

Dominus is at once one of the most storied names in Napa wine and also an estate on the rise. Although they’ve been a noteworthy producer ever since they crushed their first grapes, the last several vintages have been the best wines they’ve ever produced. The 2015, carrying two 100 point scores, looks to continue that trend. As you’d expect, quantities are limited, so act quickly.

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Dominus Estate, Napa Valley 2015 750ML Buy Now: $289 special
Dominus Estate, Napa Valley 2015 375ML Buy Now: $159 special
Wine Advocate 100 points “Bottled in July 2017 and composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the Dominus 2015 Proprietary Red Wine leaps from the glass with notes of fresh wild blueberries, crushed blackberries and black currant juice with touches of wild thyme, underbrush, iron ore and aniseed with wafts of lavender and pencil lead.… Read the rest

La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet 2013

June 2017

La Jota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain 2013

A Great Big Cabernet at a Great Big Discount!

It’s telling that La Jota’s full name is “La Jota Vineyard Co.” Founded in 1898, it’s a winery explicitly tied to a place, in this case Howell Mountain. Howell Mountain is a special place in Napa to grow Cabernet Sauvignon and the history of the winery reflects that—the first awards for the winery were in the 1902 Paris Exposition. They shuttered during prohibition and became a “ghost winery” until the current winery opened in 1982.

The winery makes its wines from estate fruit spread over 28 acres of prime volcanic Howell Mountain real estate, and the Cabernet is what they’re known for. … Read the rest

Chateau Margaux Bordeaux 2009

Chateau Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux 2009 750ML ($1,199.95) Buy Now: $999 special

Robert Parker 99 points “A brilliant offering from the Mentzelopoulos family, once again their gifted manager, Paul Pontallier, has produced an uncommonly concentrated, powerful 2009 Chateau Margaux made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. As with most Medocs, the alcohol here is actually lower (a modest 13.3%) than most of its siblings-. Abundant blueberry, cassis and acacia flower as well as hints of charcoal and forest floor aromas that are almost Burgundian in their complexity are followed by a wine displaying sweet, well-integrated tannins as well as a certain ethereal lightness despite the wine’s overall size. Rich, round, generous and unusually approachable for such a young Margaux, this 2009 should drink well for 30-35+ years.”… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Chateau Auney L’Hermitage Rouge 2011 4-17-16

Chateau Auney L’Hermitage ‘L’Hermitage Rouge’, Graves 2011 ($27.95) Buy Now: $24 special

Why we love it: Just enough earthiness and rusticity to keep you engaged but not so much to overwhelm. With a nice beef stew, this would really shine. More medium-bodied and restrained than I’m used to, with a very intriguing cranberry-licorice-tobacco-mint flavor composite. – Tyler

Importer note: “Known as Chateau Le Chec until 2012, when its long-time owners changed the name to Auney l’Hermitage, the estate is run by Sylvie and Christien Auney. 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec. Aged for 15 months in a mix of new and old oak.”… Read the rest