Wine Occasion Gifts

The Vingiellos have only made 425 cases of A.P. Vin Rosella~s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, and we managed to get some. Bright and bursting with luscious red and blue fruit, with a wink of herbs and great acidity, you~ll be glad if you jump on this bandwagon. The production of this winery in sum is about 2,000 cases of wine per year. Each one is made with tremendous devotion, attention and love, which you will taste in your first sip. Jeb Dunnuck:The 2016 Pinot Noir Rosella~s Vineyard comes from one of the top sites in the region. Coming from three clones 115, 777 and Pisoni, it sports a deeper ruby color as well as a rocking bouquet of sweet raspberries, tart cherries, flowers, and mint. It~s ripe and sexy, yet stays fresh, lively and clean on the palate, with good acidity. It~s a beautiful wine to drink over the coming 4-6 years (I suspect it will keep longer). Oct 2017 Winery: In 1996, Gary Franscioni planted the 50-acre Rosellas Vineyard, named for his wife, on their estate property just 112 miles north of Garys Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County. We have been sourcing grapes from this vineyard site since 2003 and believe that Rosellas Vineyard, with Gary Franscionis exceptional farming practices, produces a unique wine representing the very best of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Santa Lucia Highlands has proven to be a world class appellation, and we are proud to offer a wine from this great vineyard. Bottle750ml, screw cap Varietal100 percent Pinot NoirAlcohol14.6 percentAging11 months in 50 percent new French oak RegionCentral Coast, Monterey County, CaliforniaProductionLimited at 425 dozen

Robert Parker, Jr.~s Wine Advocate: 2014 started as a normal growing season, but in February it started raining, so the character of many wines is fresh, less powerful and more elegant. These characteristics are clearly reflected in the 2014 Malbec Finca Altamira, which in any case is always the most floral and exuberant of the single-vineyard bottlings. What matters here is the origin, the soils and vines, rather than the process, which is kept more or less the same for all of the wines. It has a spectacular acid structure, not as creamy as other years, more vertical. Truly outstanding. Drink 2016-2024. Dec 2016 James Suckling: The dried-meat and ripe-fruit character is very intense on the nose with hints of berries, tobacco and wet leaf. Full-bodied, dense and rich with wonderful energized fruit. Layered. Long and zesty finish. Better in 2020. Jun 2017 Winery: For the pure aficionado. Dark medium ruby in color with aromas of blackberry, black plum, violet, cassis and a touch of leather. Silky on the palate with fresh acidity and refined tannins, which lead to layers of espresso and floral notes on a long, expressive finish. Low yields, careful vineyard management and low intervention winemaking are the hallmark of this and all other Acha_val-Ferrer wines. Bottle750ml, corkVarietal100 percent Malbec Alcohol14.0 percentAcidity5.9g/LBrix at Harvest23.6pH3.62Aging14 months in new French oak barrles (Boutes &amp Mercury) RegionMendoza, ArgentinaProductionLimited at 833 dozen

Robert Parker, Jr.~s Wine Advocate: Located in Perdriel, in Lujn de Cuyo, a classical zone in the province or Mendoza, the 2013 Malbec Finca Bella Vista had the same treatment as the rest of the single-vineyards, which means aging in 100 percent new French oak barriques. In addition, in 2013 they started using no less than 50 percent 160-liter barrels for the levage, and against all odds the oak is really imperceptible here. There are wild berries, acidic strawberries, violets and some balsamic aromas that characterize the incredibly elegant and subtle nose. The palate reveals a silky texture and superb acidity with juicy fruit, sophisticated tannins, great balance and length. Drink 2015-2025. Achval-Ferrer has produced its best collection of wines in 2013, with a superb showing of the ugly duckling, Finca Mirador, that usually suffers in comparison with Bella Vista and Altamira early on. But Santiago Achval tells me it~s a winner in the long run. In this 2013, the Mirador even challenges Altamira! Splitting hairs anyway. Aug 2015 Antonio Galloni~s Vinous: Bright, saturated ruby. Crushed black cherry, boysenberry, bitter chocolate, smoked pork and leather aromas lifted by a violet note. Densely packed and fine-grained, with strong harmonious acidity giving shape to the dark berry and floral flavors. Offers compelling inner-mouth energy and saline minerality wonderfully refined, fruity, youthful wine with suave tannins and excellent length. Lay this one down as it~s totally primary today. Very juicy, bright and long on the aftertaste. Drink 2019-2027 Mar 2016 Winery: Crafted with fruit from a 100-year old finca. Bright, medium ruby in color with vibrant, strong aromas of blackberry, violet, dark raspberry and crushed stone. Very concentrated with notable graphite and cured tobacco notes. Well-built with fine tannins leading to a perfumed, silky finish. Low yields, careful vineyard management and low intervention winemaking are the hallmark of this and all other Acha_val-Ferrer wines. Bottle750ml, corkVarietal100 percent Malbec Alcohol14.5 percentAcidity6.4g/LBrix at Harvest25pH3.6Aging15 months in in new French oak barrels (Boutes &amp Mercury) RegionMendoza, ArgentinaProductionLimited at 1,880 dozen

Robert Parker, Jr.~s Wine Advocate: Starting with the single-vineyards wines, the 2013 Malbec Finca Mirador comes from a plot of Malbec in Medrano planted with old vines, is the warmest of them all, but don~t look for any signs of heat or excess ripeness here as the nose is fresh, vibrant and elegant, and without losing its personality it seems to be taken to a higher stage. There is no trace of oak here, despite the fact that they are now using at least a half of smaller, 160-liter barrels for the aging of their top wines. The palate delivers all the nose has promised, plus a fine thread and a thin line of acidity making it remarkably fresh. 2013 seems to be the best vintage yet. Bravo! There is no 2012 of Finca Mirador, because the canopy of the vines was destroyed by hail, and the vines could not ripen the grapes without leaves, so they were forced to cut all the unripe bunches and drop them. I wonder if this has something to do with the exceptional performance of Mirador in 2013. Drink 2015-2022. Achval-Ferrer has produced its best collection of wines in 2013, with a superb showing of the ugly duckling, Finca Mirador, that usually suffers in comparison with Bella Vista and Altamira early on. But Santiago Achval tells me it~s a winner in the long run. In this 2013, the Mirador even challenges Altamira! Splitting hairs anyway. Aug 2015 Winery: A definitive expression of terroir. Pristine, medium ruby red in color with layers of spice and aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate, espresso and tobacco. Savory characters of graphite, leather, herbs and pepper add to the complexity and personality of this wine which finishes with textured elegant tannins. Low yields, careful vineyard management and low intervention winemaking are the hallmark of this and all other Achaval-Ferrer wines. Bottle750ml, corkVarietal100 percent Malbec Alcohol14.5 percentAcidity6.48g/LBrix at Harvest24.14pH3.6Aging15 months in 2-yr old French oak barrels (Boutes &amp Mercury) RegionMendoza, ArgentinaProductionLimited at 1,425 dozen

When Francesco Monaci established this winery, he had no idea of the frenzy his wines would inspire. In only a handful of vintages, his Brunello and Rossohave become some of Montalcino~s most sought after wines. A nephew of consorzio president, and famed producer, Giancarlo Pacenti, Francesco found a steepSangiovese vineyard in Castelnuovo dell~Abate where a seven-hectare vineyard is perfectly situated, with a full southern exposure. This allows for incredibleripeness even in the old, low-vigor Sangiovese clones he favors. Grapes are harvested by hand and then strictly sorted to eliminate sub-standard fruit.Only the finest lots are selected for Brunello. Antonio Galloni~s Vinous: Bright pale red. Fresh aromas and flavors of red berries, dried herbs, licorice and tea. Clean, juicyand youthfully chewy, offering bright Sangiovese colors, aromas and flavors of tea leaf, licorice, and red berries that linger nicely on the long, violet-accented,savory, slightly peppery finish. One of the more interesting, fresher Brunellos from Agostina Pieri in years. Very well done. Drink 2024-2032. Apr 2018Robert Parker, Jr.~s Wine Advocate: The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is a smooth and silky interpretation of Sangiovese.It plays the elegance card very nicely and doles out a steady succession of forest berry, wild rose and balsam herb aromas. Despite that delicate touch,the wine leaves the palate clean and polished, thanks to the natural acidity and fruity brightness at its core. All it needs is a few more years of timeto flesh out further in the bottle. Drink 2020-2030. Feb 2018James Suckling: This is a serious 2013 Brunello with deep dried fruits and a herbal nose, then massive, chocolatey tannins and a hintof caramel. Then the impressively long, dry finish kicks in. Drink or hold. Jan 2018 Bottle 750ml, cork Varietal 100 percent Sangiovese Grosso (sustainably farmed) Alcohol 14.0 percent Aging 30 months, then 12 months further refining in bottle Region Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Wild mushroom and burrata bruschetta is what we would put next to our first glasses of Alma Fria Holtermann Vineyard Pinot Noir. It~s a beauty burstingwith fruit and anchored by subtle earthiness it will make any pairing better. After the bruschetta, we recommend a prosciutto and sage-wrapped pork roastwith roasted potatoes and lemony asparagus on the side. Plank-grilled salmon steaks with the sides of your choice is a classic no-fail choice, as are grilledlamb burgers with a mint mayonnaise and wilted raddichio. The only question: how will you ever choose??Antonio Galloni~s Vinous: The highlight in this range, Alma Fria~s 2015 Pinot Noir Holtermann Vineyard is a very sexy wine. Racy,juicy and aromatically intense, the 2015 is another wine full of the natural radiance and richness the vintage provided on its own. Succulent red cherry,plum, menthol, licorice, lavender and spice all mesh together in this dense, super-expressive, yet mid-weight Pinot. Drinking window: 2019 - 2025. Apr2018Winery: The 2015 vintage produced the most powerful and intense Holtermann Vineyard Pinot Noir yet. Beautiful aromatics of rosepetals, red fruit, and hints of tobacco invite further exploration. Raspberries, pomegranates, red currents and bright cherries dominate the palate. Thewine exhibits a soft mouthfeel and just a hint of salinity. Beautiful now, this wine will further develop with cellar time. Bottle 750ml, cork Varietal 100 percent Pinot Noir Alcohol 13.4 percent Aging 25 percent new French oak Region Sonoma Coast, California

From the rolling, fecund hills of Tuscany we' got our hands on some Altesino Brunello di Montalcino. This bottle is savory, beautifully layered and integrated, and certain to light up your meal and table. Hold for at least a year or two and then have at it. You'll be richly rewarded for your patience.

We think theAltos Las Hormigas Gualtallary Malbec is a knock-outred wine from Argentina. Altos Las Hormigas works beautifully with manymeat dishes. If you feel like steak, grill it, slice it thinly, and drape it on an arugula salad with shaved parmesan and a garlicky vinaigrette. Pan-friedpork chops with a plum/cardamom compote will work beautifully too. Old habits die hard winelovers. Make a sage, white pepper, salt and garlicbutter in the food processor and then spread it liberally under the skin of a small chicken. Roast until the skin is crispy, and serve with silky mashedpotatoes. You~ll be glad you did. Or, make a classic Coq au Vin with mushrooms and onions. Thin crust sausage pizza with a couple of anchovies layeredon is another delicious choice for this versatile wine. On the lighter, meat-free side, putting a glass of this Mendoza Malbec next to a mushroom lasagnawill not disappoint either. It~s spaghetti and giant turkey meatballs for dinner around here... Suculento!Robert Parker, Jr.~s Wine Advocate: My favorite of the collection, the 2016 Malbec Appellation Gualtallary is a wild and structuredexpression of the grape, place and vintage. Produced with grapes grown at 1,300 meters in altitude, it fermented in concrete vats with indigenous yeastsand aged in untoasted 3,500-liter French oak foudres for some 22 months. It comes from two selected plots in Gualtallary and has a very perfumed nose thatis intoxicating, with notes of decayed violets, wild herbs and an earthy touch. The palate is pure chalk, with mineral notes, ultra refined tannins anda dry, tasty finish. This has a similar character to the Reserve, with higher minerality and the added freshness of 2016. This has to be one of the bestwines ever produced at Altos Las Hormigas. It has the balance to develop nicely in bottle. Drink date: 2018 - 2028. Jun 2018Winery: This Malbec fully shows you its origins: Gualtallary. In this vintage particularly, the character- istics of this terroirfavored the wine. Especially the soils of this appellation, with its marked slopes and its low humidity retention capacity, helped the excess of waterin a year that was more rainy than average in the area- to drain easily and benefit grape concentration. A solid violet red color reveals a dense, concentrated,compact wine. Notes of spices and minerality make a complex nose. On the palate, a supple entry, dark berries and spices. A very structured and quite wildMalbec, with firm fine-grain tannins, showing its calcareous foundations and columns. The mouth feel is full of thrilling freshness and balance, with along and persistent finish. Bottle 750ml Varietal 100 percent Malbec Alcohol percent 14.0 percent Total Acidity 5.62 g/l pH 3.8 Aging Aged 22 months in 3,500 liter untoasted Foudres Region Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

The Amapola Creek Joseph Belli Vineyards Chardonnay, made by legendary vintner Dick Arrowood, is ready to drink now, and, we have food pairing suggestions.Starter: peeky toe crab fritters with basil aioli. Entree #1: Sauteed sea bass with spaetzle and a warm buttermilk vinaigrette. Entree #2: LBLT. Yes, alobster BLT on toasted, buttered thick-sliced brioche. Entree #3: Whole, boneless chicken legs stuffed with bread crumbs, lemon zest, prosciutto, basiland provolone, roasted to a beautiful caramel color.Jeb Dunnuck: The 2016 Chardonnay Jos. Belli Vineyards is beautiful. Exotic flowers, lychee, white peach, and a hint of honeysucklegive way to a medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant and silky Chardonnay that has good acidity as well as texture. Aged 11 months in new and neutralbarrels, drink it over the coming 4-5 years. Jun 2018Winery: Our Chardonnay is grown by Joseph Belli, a close friend and longtime business associate of Richards. Joe has planted his grapesnext to his home, a few miles south of Healdsburg on the western end of the Russian River Valley. The vineyard is set just past the edge of the valleyfloor, where the land starts to lift-up into rolling hills. These steep, terraced hillsides provide excellent drainage for the vines, reducing the wateravailable to the roots, which in turn produces tiny berries with intense flavor. Since the vineyard faces the east, the vines receive full sunlight inthe morning and early afternoon, while being protected from the more intense late afternoon sun. We use two clones of Chardonnay from the Belli ranch inour blend: Rued, a musqu selection of Chardonnay that contributes vibrant tropical aromatics, and Dijon, which delivers a classic Chardonnay profile richin minerality and fruit flavors.The nose of this wine opens with a burst of ripe pear, backed by a gentle note of dark honey and orange blossom. Linger with the glass, and you will findtraces of gardenia and maple sugar, opening to a subtle aroma of flint. Take a sip, and the flavor of ripe, juicy pear immediately returns. It quicklygives way to toast and caramel, which in turn open to gentle characters of minerality and mild citrus zest. The mouthfeel is rich, bordering on oily, witha strong core of acidity to balance it out. The finish is full and lush, with characters of apricot jam and toasted oats, balanced against a light-yet-sharptrill of acidity at the tip of the tongue. This wine was fermented in French oak barrels and then aged in barrel for 11 months, where the wine completedmalolactic fermentation. The 2016 Jos. Belli Chardonnay is completely accessible now, but if stored properly, it will continue to develop for at leastthe next handful of years. Bottle: 750ml, cork Varietal: 100 percent Chardonnay Alcohol percent: 13.9 percent Acidity g/l: 5.9 pH: 3.5 Aging: 11 months in new and seasoned French oak Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California Production: Limited at 500 dozen

Antonio Galloni~s Vinous: The 2015 Pinot Noir Tina Marie Vineyard is one of the more powerful, dense wines in this range. Manyof the 2015s will drink well with minimal cellaring, but the 2015 is a wine that is going to need time to fully come together. Bluish shades of fruit,lavender, mint and spice add to the wine~s dark, supple personality. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to look forward to. Mar 2017Winery: This site lies in the heart of the Green Valley appellation, on the corner of Green Valley and Maddocks Roads. Owner andmanager Ron Black had the foresight to plant this hillside very densely to create more vine competition and lower yields. This approach delivers an intoxicatingcombination of lushness and poise to the wines from this site.Trade Notes: The nose unfolds slowly in the glass, revealing aromas of dark red cherries and raspberries with hints of clove and otherspices. Relatively light in weight and somewhat lean in style, with flavorful black cherry fruit caressed by supple tannins, and underlain with tight acidity.Admirable length with welcome freshness and accessibility. Bottle 750ml, cool wax seal, cork Farming Practicing Biodynamic Varietal Pinot Noir Alcohol ~14.0 percent Region Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California

Antonio Galloni~s Vinous: The 2016 Pinot Noir Tina Marie Vineyard is a wine of subtlety and finesse. Lifted and understated, theTina Marie is beautifully persistent on the palate, with pretty floral and savory notes that give the wine its aromatic top notes. Bright red cherry, plumand rose petal linger in this mid-weight, tightly wound wine. Drink 2018-2026. Apr 2018Winery: This site lies in the heart of the Green Valley appellation, on the corner of Green Valley and Maddocks Roads. Owner andmanager Ron Black had the foresight to plant this hillside very densely to create more vine competition and lower yields. This approach delivers an intoxicatingcombination of lushness and poise to the wines from this site.Trade Notes: xxx Bottle 750ml, cool wax seal, cork Farming Practicing Biodynamic Varietal Pinot Noir Alcohol ~14.0 percent Region Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California

James Suckling: This shows crystal-clear blue fruit such as blueberries, iodine, pine needles, cedar, mint and dark licorioce. It~s lively on the palate with oyster shell flavors, real savory character, firm tannins, pretty acidity and a minerally finish. Drink now or hold. Dec 2017 Winery:Pure, rich and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with flavors of currant, blackberry, black licorice and spice, and a firm, savory mid-palate that ends with a long, persistent finish. Bottle750ml VarietalCabernet SauvignonAlcohol14.1 percentRegionAtlas Peak, Napa Valley, California

This Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Napa Chardonnay~s got meat on its bones. It~s a beautifully full-bodied Chardonnay with stellar minerality. Have it aloneas an aperitif to fully explore the layers of flavors. After that, try it with a homemade lobster roll, seared scallops or breaded chicken cutlets drizzledwith a lemony brown butter-caper sauce. That~ll be another win in the Napa column...Winery: Watson Ranch Vineyard is perched on a steep hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay at the southernmost end of the NapaValley. The ranch was named after early Napa attorney, Augustus Watson, who owned the property in the early 1900s. The adjacent property is an abandonedlimestone quarry which historically employed over 300 people, mining material to make portland cement used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.Exposed and unprotected from the elements, this wind-whipped site was planted in 1993 by the talented Napa Valley veteran grower Salvador Ramos. Soilsat Watson Ranch are composed of calcareous clay over limestone. This soil type is extremely rare on the North Coast but shows itself in a narrow fin atthe tail end of the Vaca Mountains in Southern Napa County. This fractured, well-drained calcareous soil, coupled with organic farming and cool windy conditions,imbue this parcel with great potential to produce world-class Chardonnay. The fruit we harvest each year from Watson is consistently textural and vibrantwith underpinnings of ample natural acidity and salinity. Bottle 750ml, cork Farming Organic Varietal 100 percent Chardonnay Alcohol 12.7 percent Total Acidity 6.4g/L Residual Sugar &lt1g/L pH 3.54 Aging 10 months in neutral French oak barrels, 225L Region Napa Valley, California

We~re in a Cabernet state of mind, winelovers. It just so happens that our friends in Paso Robles have available this Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon to satisfy every nuance of our hankering. Rustle up some glasses, and maybe a nice fire, and pour a generous glass of this delicious red. The layers of dark, ripe fruit will pull you into their warm, happy embrace immediately. If you must move from that chair, hands down our number one recommendation with this big, beautiful Cab is a thick ribeye, grilled, au poivre. Put some caramelized shallots on the plate next to it if you want the pairing to go stratospheric... Pot roast pork shoulder with prunes is another tasty option be sure to brown it well before putting it in the oven. Not to worry if you~re not feeling the meaty dishes this Austin Hope works wonderfully with a classic eggplant parmesan. The slight bitter found in eggplant is a seamless partner for the tannins in the wine. Hungry yet? Not to worry there~s plenty of Hope to go around. Wine Enthusiast: Vintner Austin Hope, whose family is intertwined in the rise of Paso Robles, spent years working to release a wine of this caliber. Dark and thick in the glass, aromas of black currant and blueberry meet with roasted coffee, chocolate syrup and baked plum on the wondrous nose. The palate is soft and extremely expressive, with blueberry, black pepper, firm midpalate tannins and a finish that~s redolent of cappuccino candies. Mar 2018 Winery: Deep ruby in color, the 2015 Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon expresses intense fragrances of black currants, ripe black cherries and blackberries with subtle notes of violets, mocha and dried spices. It~s a big, powerful, modern-styled wine with velvety tannins and heaps of juicy blackberry and cherry fruit, while nuances of cedar, clove and vanilla bean round out the long, smooth finish. It~s full bodied, rich and balanced by fresh acidity with a firm, polished tannin structure. The goal for this Cabernet is simple is to make wine that expresses all that Paso has to offer, with its pastoral beauty, perfect soils, maritime climate and limitless possibility. Bottle1,500ml, cork Varietal100 percent Cabernet SauvignonAlcohol15.0 percentAging18 months in 75 percent new French oakRegionPaso Robles, Central Coast, California

We~re in a Cabernet state of mind, winelovers. It just so happens that our friends in Paso Robles have available this Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon to satisfy every nuance of our hankering. Rustle up some glasses and pour a generous glass of this delicious red. The layers of dark, ripe fruit will pull you into their warm, happy embrace immediately. If you must move from that chair, hands down our number one recommendation with this big, beautiful Cab is a thick ribeye, grilled, au poivre. Put some caramelized shallots on the plate next to it if you want the pairing to go stratospheric... Pot roast pork shoulder with prunes is another tasty option be sure to brown it well before putting it in the oven. Not to worry if you~re not feeling the meaty dishes this Austin Hope works wonderfully with a classic eggplant parmesan. The slight bitter found in eggplant is a seamless partner for the tannins in the wine. Hungry yet? Not to worry there~s plenty of Hope to go around.Wine Enthusiast: Designated Editors~ Choice. This bottling is dark in the glass and extremely lavish, with silky aromas of cassis, black cherry and caramel. The palate combines blackberry mousse, mocha and more caramel with a firm tannic structure and buoyant acidity. Jul 2019Winery: Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon stems from an endless fascination with the soils and diverse sub-regions of Paso Robles, where exceptional wines are being made. It also tells the story of the Hope familys long history in the region and how their pride and knowledge can be brought to life in a bottle of wine.Deep ruby in color, the 2016 Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon expresses intense fragrances of black currants, ripe black cherries and blackberries with subtle notes of violets, mocha and dried spices. Its a big, powerful, modern-styled wine with velvety tannins and heaps of juicy blackberry and cherry fruit, while nuances of cedar, clove and vanilla bean round out the long, smooth finish. Its full bodied, rich and balanced by fresh acidity with a supple, polished tannin structure.The goal for this Cabernet is simple to make wine that expresses all that Paso has to offer, with its pastoral beauty, perfect soils, maritime climate and limitless possibility. ~ Austin Hope, Owner/WinemakerBottle750ml, corkVarietal100 percentCabernet SauvignonAlcohol15.0 percentAging18 months in 75 percent new French oakRegionPaso Robles, Central Coast, California