Shelter Cabernet ‘The Butcher’ 2005 – 95 Points.

Shelter Cabernet

Dense purple in color, with a nose of graphite, dark berries, creme de cassis, and hints of truffle, the wine shows incredible fruit intensity, cocoa powder, tobacco, full body, sweet and plushy tannins, vibrant acidity, and a stunning, seamless, long finish. 95 points
About Shelter Wines:
The Shelter label was created when the two former sommeliers from a world famous Napa restaurant in Napa were approached by one of their high-profile cult winemaker friends. This unnamed winemaker had some extra wine which was identical to their top Cabernet. Rather than raise their production and go through the hassle of re-bottling, ordering new labels, capsules, etc–they decided to sell it in bottle to be re-corked as the Shelter Wine Co. The wine “Shelter” sells for 1/2 to 1/3 of the price of the identical wine bottled by this unknown producer. It is a wine for those customers who know quality Cult Cabernet when they taste it, but would rather drink a wine for a fraction of the price than pay extra just for the renowned label.

Our Favorite new “Burgundy + California” Pinot!

SAND HILL “DURELL” VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2005

This delicious Pinot Noir is sourced from the owner of the Durell vineyard, famous as one of Kistler’s most highly rated!  We love this new micro-production discovery because it combines the elegant minerality of Burgundy’s finest Pinots combined with seductively bold California fruit.

(more…)

We Say “96 points!” before Parker samples next month!

CHATEAU BOSWELL “ESTATE RESERVE” Cabernet, 2005 = 96 points!!!

Insider Scoop: We poured this gem at a serious wine collector tasting event on 9/13 and it was the overwhelming crowd favorite. We opened the bottle about 3 hours prior to sampling and then decanted it for almost an hour. We sampled a few $$$ Cabernets prior to this Boswell Estate and when we sampled this nectar everyone in the room was stunned by the noticeably superior quality. The #1 collector in the room was stunned when we informed him that this wine sells for under $100 because he thought it would be a $300+ “cult” wine!

(more…)

Chardonnay = Better than 98 points!

Leeuwin Chardonnay Art Series 2005

One of the Top 5 rarest and most collectible Chardonnays in the world since Wine Spectator rated last three vintages an unprecedented 94 – 98 points and  “best white wine in Australia” ..Only 100 cases were imported and we have less than 10 case to sell so ‘do the math’ and order now!

(more…)

Duckhorn’s Best Kept “Secret” Cabernet

We love this wine because the undiscovered “secret” is that Duckhorn produces  some of Napa’s finest bold Cabernet fruit crafted in a BIG, age-worthy style reminiscent of Silver Oak’s finest vintages. Duckhorn’s Estate Cabernet is one of the finest, food-friendly elite Cabernets from Napa. I recently sat down with the winery and enjoyed a bottle of this prized juice along side grilled mushrooms and Kobe beef. It was an out-of-body experience!
(more…)