Top 5 Wines of 2019

RUDIUS
2014 KALEY ELIZABETH
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE | NAPA VALLEY

In winemaking, when the stars align perfectly and combine fruit from one of Oakville’s best vineyards with one of Napa’s most talented winemakers, the end result is a wine that competes with the best in the world.

The wine hails exclusively from a secret vineyard source in Oakville just across from Screaming Eagle. If Rudius chose to list the vineyard on their label they would have to charge $175 per bottle.

The wine was brilliantly crafted by Jeff Ames, who mentored under Thomas River Brown at Schrader, Maybach, Outpost and TOR before becoming head winemaker at TOR in 2005.

Since then, he’s made wines scoring in the high-90’s look easy, and with his own label, Rudius, he’s applied that same skill-set to creating value wines with unrestrained character and profound hedonism.

This secret vineyard source has beautiful red soils that give wines from this area intense, prolific flavors. With neighbors like Screaming Eagle, Rudd, Dalla Valle’s Maya and Joseph Phelps’ Bacchus Vineyards, it makes this the epicenter for growing some of the best Bordeaux varietals in the world.

The wines from this vineyard have a trademark intense red-fruited perfume, dark, supple fruits, crushed rock, graphite and brilliant complexity. If you enjoy the best wines that Napa Valley has to offer, you do not want to miss this brilliant Cabernet…

From Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaley Elizabeth comes from the Tierra Rojo vineyard in Oakville planted in 1988 and contains a small splash of Cabernet Franc. The nose explodes with baked cherries, blackcurrant cordial and blueberry pie notes with touches of Chinese five spice, wood smoke and beef drippings with a waft of dried herbs. Full-bodied, rich and spicy with mouth-filling savory and spice layers, it has a solid backbone of chewy tannins and a lively line, finishing long. 300 cases were made.” 96+ Points

# 2
CRU9
2016 “STOP TALKING”
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $60.00 per bottle
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Tasting Notes: “Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet 2016 has an intense purple color offering a powerful nose of ripe blackberries, black cherry, dried currants, crushed rocks, cigar box and hints of cinnamon. On the palate, it is intensely penetrating and focused with concentrated wild mountain blackberries, cassis and velvety tannins. It finishes in a linear style that’s so focused and penetrating, it brings an immediate smile to your face and is exceptionally satisfying. In a world where hundred plus dollar Napa Cabs are the norm, this is the ultimate ‘Bang for your Buck’ wine. Superb! Drink now through 2029.”
97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

# 4
MONTAGU
2017 CHARDONNAY
RITCHIE VINEYARD
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $55 per bottle
Members price: Click here to receive Special Members Only Insider prices.

Winery Notes: “From the world class Ritchie Vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley this Chardonnay is rich, powerful, and driven by layers of white peach, candied orange peel and lemon curd. Brightness balances the wine and is a hallmark of classic Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay. This wine was fermented in French barrels and spent a year in barrel leading to wonderfully balanced oak integration while sur lee aging developed depth and complexity.”