Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Domaine de la Côte Estate Pinot Noir is a vibrant, complex wine marked by bright red fruit, earthy depth, and firm structure, showing both immediate charm and strong aging potential. It balances vivacious fruit with savory notes and finishes with energetic acidity and tannins, suggesting graceful evolution over time.
Domaine De La Cote
The Sta. Rita Hills are unique among winegrowing places, an austere and somewhat harsh place in which to produce subtle wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, varieties long associated with gentler locales. We lie in the contested space between that vast, frigid, tumultuous sea and an equally expansive, severe, arid desert. We came to this place seeking an antithesis of the preordained richness of new world winelands, where plump and generous wines seemed inevitable, in search of a site that compels vines and people together to struggle in a productive way that can be overcome only by hands and effort, observation, and ingenuity. We sought an incisive place that would scrape away a wine’s uncomplicated flesh to reveal the muscle, bone, and organ that become the contour, nuance, and novelty of wines unique to this place. Finding a place where nature inexorably imposes its aesthetic we hope allows us, through viticultural choices and straightforward winemaking, to discern and clarify its signal.
The process, not just the product, nurtures us. A goal since breaking ground in 2006 was to be able to pose questions to the vineyard, as to an oracle, about elements and earth, about wine, about the nature of life itself. Answers came first as vines that lived and claimed a foothold in the earth and blossomed and grew strong. Then as grapes, small in volume but dense with matter, energy, and potential. And finally as wines, each year more pure and original, more beguiling and eloquent. Each year, the same questions elicit new answers, which we mull over and chew on and drink deeply of, and which ultimately further this story, our story, propelling
Winemaker Notes
The 2023 Pinot Noir Bloom's Field is a powerful, structured wine. Veins of tannin lend energy to this deceptively mid-weight Pinot. Readers will have to be patient with the 2020, as it is pretty tightly wound at this stage. The purity here is just striking. What a wine!
About Winery
The Sta. Rita Hills are unique among winegrowing places, an austere and somewhat harsh place in which to produce subtle wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, varieties long associated with gentler locales. We lie in the contested space between that vast, frigid, tumultuous sea and an equally expansive, severe, arid desert. We came to this place seeking an antithesis of the preordained richness of new world winelands, where plump and generous wines seemed inevitable, in search of a site that compels vines and people together to struggle in a productive way that can be overcome only by hands and effort, observation, and ingenuity. We sought an incisive place that would scrape away a wine’s uncomplicated flesh to reveal the muscle, bone, and organ that become the contour, nuance, and novelty of wines unique to this place. Finding a place where nature inexorably imposes its aesthetic we hope allows us, through viticultural choices and straightforward winemaking, to discern and clarify its signal.
Winemaker Notes
The 2023 Pinot Noir Bloom's Field is dark-fruited and floral on the nose, leading to a multidimensional palate that combines textural depth and breadth with stunning saturation and focus. The palate is vibrant and juicy yet tempered by a dark undercurrent of intense tannic structure and considerable length on the finish. It has developed a slightly more lush texture since my previous tasting before bottling, a generosity balanced by vivid streaks of salinity rendered in high fidelity. There is a cascading and finessed nature to the finish here that I suspect will continue to blossom well into its second decade in the cellar.
Domaine De La Cote
The Sta. Rita Hills are unique among winegrowing places, an austere and somewhat harsh place in which to produce subtle wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, varieties long associated with gentler locales. We lie in the contested space between that vast, frigid, tumultuous sea and an equally expansive, severe, arid desert. We came to this place seeking an antithesis of the preordained richness of new world winelands, where plump and generous wines seemed inevitable, in search of a site that compels vines and people together to struggle in a productive way that can be overcome only by hands and effort, observation, and ingenuity. We sought an incisive place that would scrape away a wine’s uncomplicated flesh to reveal the muscle, bone, and organ that become the contour, nuance, and novelty of wines unique to this place. Finding a place where nature inexorably imposes its aesthetic we hope allows us, through viticultural choices and straightforward winemaking, to discern and clarify its signal.
The process, not just the product, nurtures us. A goal since breaking ground in 2006 was to be able to pose questions to the vineyard, as to an oracle, about elements and earth, about wine, about the nature of life itself. Answers came first as vines that lived and claimed a foothold in the earth and blossomed and grew strong. Then as grapes, small in volume but dense with matter, energy, and potential. And finally as wines, each year more pure and original, more beguiling and eloquent. Each year, the same questions elicit new answers, which we mull over and chew on and drink deeply of, and which ultimately further this story, our story, propelling
1995 | WA 93
The 1995 Dominus (6,000 cases produced from a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot) is a ripe, plummy, supple, expansively-flavored wine with copious quantities of black currant fruit.
2008 | WA 99
Made in a more masculine style, the 2008 Dominus has all of that along with bigger body and more structure, fat, density and texture.
2009 | WA 99
Deep garnet colored, it rolls easily, sensuously out of the glass with evolving fruit notes of baked blackcurrants, plum preserves, mulberries and fruitcake plus underlying suggestions of charcuterie, camphor, chocolate-covered cherries and candied violets with just a touch of cast iron pan.
2013 | WA 100 (Special Vintage)
Powerful and balanced with aromas of black currants, dried wildflowers, earthy-mineral, and notes of cocoa nibs.
2015 | WA 100
Features notes of blue and black fruits (plum, blueberry), cassis, wild thyme, underbrush, and iron ore.
2016 | WA 100
Offering up subtle notions of potpourri, Indian spices, cigar box and iron ore over a core of crushed blackberries and black cherries with intermittent wafts of black and red currants, new leather and smoked meats. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a densely packed mid-palate and oodles of freshness framed by very ripe, finely grained tannins and laced with compelling earthy accents.
2017 | V 98
The 2017 Dominus is one of the truly epic, grand wines of the vintage. Rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous concentration and sheer power, the 2017 Dominus captures all the personality of this site along with the natural opulence of the year. Inky dark fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice, plum, gravel and a host of dark spice notes infuse the 2017 with seemingly endless layers of nuance.
2018 | JS 100
The 2018 vintage (89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot) is described as a "classic for the ages". It is known for a blend of luxurious texture, high concentration, and a savory, "soil-driven" component. The palate is often described as complex, with firm tannins and a long finish.
About Winery
The vineyards of Dominus Estate have connections to the original history of the Napa Valley as they date back to the mid 1850’s, or even earlier, when it was first cultivated. At the time, it was known as the Napanook vineyard.
In the late 1960s, while attending the University of California at Davis, Christian Moueix fell in love with the Napa Valley and its wines. Son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, the famed wine merchant and producer from Libourne, France, Moueix returned home in 1970 to manage the family vineyards, including Chateaux Petrus, La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy in Pomerol and Magdelaine in St. Emilion.
His love of Napa Valley lingered and in 1981, he discovered the historic Napanook vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville that had been the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines of the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1982, Moueix entered into a partnership with Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, the daughters of John Daniels who owned the vineyard. In 1995, he became the sole owner of the estate and chose the name Dominus, or “Lord of the Estate” in Latin to underscore his longstanding commitment to stewardship of the land.
One of the most respected wine producers in the world, Christian Moueix is on a personal quest for perfection in grape growing and winemaking. It is a journey that began in Bordeaux and continues today at Dominus Estate.
2022 | JS 92
Bright and refined with aromas of blackberries, cassis, fresh tobacco, crushed stones and dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied and polished with fine tannins and vibrant fruit. Defined and balanced with a touch of minerality.
About Winery
Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting classic Napa Valley wines for nearly 40 years. This winemaking tradition has grown to include seven meticulously farmed Estate vineyards, located throughout the various microclimates of the Napa Valley. Focused on quality and consistency, these Estate vineyards are an essential element in making wines of distinction. Pioneering and perfecting Merlot as a premium varietal, Duckhorn Vineyards now makes several elegant Merlot and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings that showcase its premium vineyard sites. Duckhorn Vineyards has been named one of the “Top 100 Wineries” in the world eight times by Wine & Spirits, and the 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard was named the “2017 Wine of the Year,” topping Wine Spectator’s annual list of the world’s “Top 100 Wines.”
2022 | JS 92
A dark-fruited, fleshy red with ripe blackberries, dark chocolate, licorice and hints of wet stones on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with a lively pace, showing silky tannins and a smooth, lingering finish.
About Winery
Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting classic Napa Valley wines for nearly 40 years. This winemaking tradition has grown to include seven meticulously farmed Estate vineyards, located throughout the various microclimates of the Napa Valley. Focused on quality and consistency, these Estate vineyards are an essential element in making wines of distinction. Pioneering and perfecting Merlot as a premium varietal, Duckhorn Vineyards now makes several elegant Merlot and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings that showcase its premium vineyard sites. Duckhorn Vineyards has been named one of the “Top 100 Wineries” in the world eight times by Wine & Spirits, and the 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard was named the “2017 Wine of the Year,” topping Wine Spectator’s annual list of the world’s “Top 100 Wines.”
2017 | WS 94
Juicy and well-defined, delivering ample range and length, this offers up cassis, crushed plum and red licorice flavors backed by roasted apple wood and red tea notes, all harnessed by a tug of iron through the well-structured finish. Should unwind nicely in the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2032.
2019 | JS 96
Currants, herbs and fresh tobacco with shaved lead pencil. Black berries. Medium to full body with creamy tannins and a juicy finish. Just a hint of oak. Rich and long with lots going on. Plenty of flavor.
About Winery
Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting classic Napa Valley wines for nearly 40 years. This winemaking tradition has grown to include seven meticulously farmed Estate vineyards, located throughout the various microclimates of the Napa Valley. Focused on quality and consistency, these Estate vineyards are an essential element in making wines of distinction. Pioneering and perfecting Merlot as a premium varietal, Duckhorn Vineyards now makes several elegant Merlot and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings that showcase its premium vineyard sites. Duckhorn Vineyards has been named one of the “Top 100 Wineries” in the world eight times by Wine & Spirits, and the 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard was named the “2017 Wine of the Year,” topping Wine Spectator’s annual list of the world’s “Top 100 Wines.”
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1x 2021 Annulus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley1x 2019 Tuck Beckstoffer Mad Hatter Napa Valley
2021 Annulus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
D | 97
This wine is intensely aromatic, pure, and bright with lifted dark berry fruit, sagebrush, and earthy minerality with lilacs. Medium to full-bodied with the finest tannins, a slight chocolaty edge, and mouthwatering blood-orange acidity on the finish. Seamless.
2019 Tuck Beckstoffer Mad Hatter Napa Valley
Vivino | 4.3
The 2019 Tuck Beckstoffer Mad Hatter Napa Valley is a red wine blend, with the majority being Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by other Bordeaux varietals like Merlot, Petit Sirah, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. It is known for aromas of plum, raspberry, and cocoa, with flavors of black fruit, chocolate, and spice on the palate. The wine has a rich profile with velvety tannins and is recommended to be drunk now or aged.
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1x 2021 Annulus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley1x 2018 Skipstone Preface Proprietary Red
2021 Annulus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
D | 97
This wine is intensely aromatic, pure, and bright with lifted dark berry fruit, sagebrush, and earthy minerality with lilacs. Medium to full-bodied with the finest tannins, a slight chocolaty edge, and mouthwatering blood-orange acidity on the finish. Seamless.
2018 Skipstone Preface Proprietary Red
Vivino | 4.2
The 2018 Skipstone Preface Proprietary Red is a Bordeaux-style blend, led by Cabernet Sauvignon, that offers bright red fruits like cherry and raspberry, layered with fresh violets and a hint of cedar. Winemaker notes highlight the cooler 2018 vintage, which resulted in long hang time, leading to full flavor ripeness, moderate alcohol, and a medium body with purity, density, and freshness. It has a potential decade of aging and is best enjoyed between 2020–2028, with a recommendation to decant for 30 minutes if opened in its first year.
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2022 Annulus Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
Floral aromatics include honeyed acacia and chamomile, white pepper, and fennel seed. The palate offers up Asian pear, lemon confit, and lychee. Hints of oyster shell and a firm phenolic backbone give this wine excellent persistence and a mouthwatering finish.
2023 JLohr Flume Crossing Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Enthusiast | 91
This widely available and affordable bottling is a great option for stacking in the fridge for summertime pool parties. Classic aromas of wet sidewalk and lime zest lead from the nose into a palate that's zippy in energy and packed with bell pepper, green peppercorn and lime zest flavors.
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1x 2021 Annulus Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville1x 2018 Lateral Kathryn Kennedy Oakville
2021 Annulus Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
D | 98
Husband-wife Luke Evnin and Deann Wright own Annulus Cellars. Nigel Kinsman met them through Bart Araujo. They make the wine at Wheeler Farms in Rutherford and source grapes from some of Napa's top sites. This is from Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard in Oakville, entirely from Block 2 on the southern side up against Hopper Creek. Incredibly polished and refined with no hard edges. Superfine tannins are intricate and lengthy, underscored by a firm spine of lacy acidity. The fruit profile is pure, ripe, and succulent, with a density lifted by that bright spine of acidity. Flavours and aromas of blackberry and black cherry are nuanced by crushed cocoa nibs, tobacco and rich earth on the lengthy finish. Gorgeous now and capable of long-term cellaring. (JC)
2018 Lateral Kathryn Kennedy Oakville
Fresh, clean and powerful flavors center on sweet oak and roasted fruit. Bright berry flavors are carried along by pleasant fine tannins very much in balance for early drinking. This vintage is never ponderous but instead ideally structured in a classic European style meant to accompany food.
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2021 Annulus Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
D | 98
Husband-wife Luke Evnin and Deann Wright own Annulus Cellars. Nigel Kinsman met them through Bart Araujo. They make the wine at Wheeler Farms in Rutherford and source grapes from some of Napa's top sites. This is from Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard in Oakville, entirely from Block 2 on the southern side up against Hopper Creek. Incredibly polished and refined with no hard edges. Superfine tannins are intricate and lengthy, underscored by a firm spine of lacy acidity. The fruit profile is pure, ripe, and succulent, with a density lifted by that bright spine of acidity. Flavours and aromas of blackberry and black cherry are nuanced by crushed cocoa nibs, tobacco and rich earth on the lengthy finish. Gorgeous now and capable of long-term cellaring. (JC)
2019 Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon
JS | 92
This red is ripe and spicy on the nose with notes of blueberries and cassis, licorice, vanilla and coffee. Full-bodied and rich with ripe, mellow fruit. The round tannins turn firm at the end. Savory aftertaste. Better after 2023 (JS).
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Duo Holiday - Maison Noir in the Sheep's Clothing + Mystery Bottle
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Duo Holiday - Maison Noir Knock on Wood + Mystery Bottle
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Duo Holiday - Maison Noir Pinot Gris OPP + Mystery Bottle
Enjoy a curated bundle featuring our best Collection of Maison Noir Wines and your choice of any other of our Holiday Best Pick from Vin Perdu, Caymus, and Joseph Phelps
Duo Holiday - Maison Noir Pinot Noir OPP + Mystery Bottle
Enjoy a curated bundle featuring our best Collection of Maison Noir Wines and your choice of any other of our Holiday Best Pick from Vin Perdu, Caymus, and Joseph Phelps
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1x 2019 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 1x 2022 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
