Manoir du Carra Bourgogne Blanc Le Soly is made of 100% Chardonnay. Average 50 year old vines.
The nose shows step by step fruity, smoky and mineral aromas. A slight oaky hint in the end with a lingering finish: those are typical Chardonnay aromas.
The wine is estate bottled.Ageing is done on fine lees during 3 to 5 months. About 40% of the wine has its alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in oak barrels (new, one, two or three wine barrels) with a weekly “Bâtonnage” (lee stirring) during 6 months. In the end, the wine in the barrels is blended with the wine in vats. Manual harvest of very ripe grapes. Selection of the best grapes on a vibrating sorting table, light pressing. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in cold stainless-steel vats.
“Marañones is so to say our signature vine. This is why the winery was named after this location.
It is part of the mountain at 800 m in altitude, oriented North. We find there the three types of granite of San Martin: the white granite, the brown and the pink. Each vineyard at Marañones has a different soil. Some are on a hill. Others are more towards the plains.
In this wine we wish to convey the Marañones area so representative of the whole winery. this is why we make this wine from the great Garnacha grape. We use a mix of vines since it is not a Parcela wine, which would be much more delicate and of more limited production.
The 100 percent Garnacha expresses itself fully, both in the nose and in the mouth, with flavours of blackthorn, a sensation of fleshy fruit retaining a slightly crispy texture. Then comes a full silkiness, with the granularity of these granite soils rich in quartz. That nugget of quartz is noticeable in the texture, length, fineness, elegance and the floral element of the wine.”
bright, ruby Grenache with wild herb, flower and crunchy red fruit flavors. Sharp tannins add structure to this full-bodied wine.
Marchesi Di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga Camp Gros Riserva is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.
Review:
Gorgeous scents of cherry, raspberry, rose hip and white pepper are augmented by leather, tobacco and chalky, mineral flavors in this detailed, complex red, which starts out fresh and inviting, before the dense matrix of tannins puts a lock on the finish. Nonetheless, this has length, harmony and stellar potential. Best from 2025 through 2043. 663 cases made, 50 cases imported.
-Wine Spectator 96 Points
Pulled from a Gentleman's cellar, all wines from this cellar have been purchased by the owner either from the importer or direct from winery. They stayed in his cellar until being moved to the Timeless Wines warehouse.
Mascot is a small-production label founded by Will Harlan in Napa Valley. The wines under this label are made from the younger vines of Harlan Estate, BOND, and Promontory, but The Mascot bottles share an exclusive preview at the development of their estates. Founded as an initial experiment to see what the young vines were capable of producing, the wines were initially only shared with close friends and family. By 2008, Will officially released the first vintage to the public since production had increased significantly. They create just one wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, and the bottle is aged for five years before release. Assembled into a single, youthful expression, this wine shares a glimpse into the evolution and pedigree of its parent estates.
Tasting Notes:
A mild winter with scant rainfall introduced the 2020 growing season. Conditions remained pleasantly even-keeled throughout the spring, except for some light precipitation in March. It is worth noting that decades of research and steady viticultural progress have enabled our vines to begin achieving tannin and textural ripeness earlier in the season, and this fact—along with the drought conditions experienced in preceding years—led to one of the earliest picking windows in our history. This development proved crucial to the 2020 vintage, when we were fortunate to have fully completed our harvest before the Glass Fire began in late September. A vibrant purity manifests within this vintage’s generosity, which advances without excess of weight or volume. Aromas of gentle red fruit give way, eventually, to a savory darkness and finely wrought core. An effortless, structural tension transforms into a silky softness on the palate that envelopes The Mascot’s inner depth and dimension. The 2020 vintage resonates rather than roars: its intricate threads of tannin, acidity, and nuance interweave to form a complete expression that shimmers with sensory detail.
Mason Cellars Pelissa Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2020 Mason Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is quintessentially Oakville from nose to finish. Attractive fresh blackberry, red current and chocolate with a hint of sweet oak boast out of the glass. This wine showcases graphite, velvety tannins and concentrated, beautifully balanced flavors with a bit of spice and white pepper. These bold flavors typical of Oakville Cabernet are rounded out with velvety tannins, a weighty mid-palate and a long, juicy finish.
Production Notes:
The fruit was delicately hand-picked in the early morning hours and brought into the winery for processing. The grapes were crushed, about 60% whole berry, and cold soaked for three days before being inoculated for primary and malo-lactic fermentation. Once dry, the wine was put down to barrel for 20 months in medium toast French oak, 25% of which was new.
Vineyard Notes:
Grapes for our 2020 Mason Cabernet Sauvignon are sourced exclusively from the Pelissa Vineyard in Oakville. This vineyard spans 60 acres and is planted to Old BV Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Zinfandel. This vineyard is named for Andrew and Babe Pelissa, who after their marriage on August 30, 1930, made their home at the site of this vineyard which, at the time, was a dairy. Oakville is the core of Napa Valley’s famed Cabernet Sauvignon production, and this site is no exception with the flawless blending of climate and soil to create a remarkable wine.
Review:
“This firmly structured, well-balanced wine has the feel of a classic Bordeaux blend. Just-ripe red and black fruits blend with subtle toast, cedar and mint on a moderately tannic, slightly tangy texture. The wine is tasty enough to decant and drink soon with grilled lamb chops or roast chicken. Best from 2026–2036.” – Jim Gordon
-Wine Enthusiast 94 Points
Alejandro Bulgheroni Lithology Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate Lithology is a series of single vineyard and AVA-designated wines made from select sites within Napa Valley. Lithology Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is produced solely from fruit grown in the historic Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard planted in 1865 by W.H. Crabb and represents Oakville's famous bench land.
Review:
The 2019 Cabernet Franc Lithology Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard just shines for its bouquet, which is classic To Kalon with its floral, incense, spicy, red and black-fruited aromatics. These all flow to a medium to full-bodied, utterly seamless Cabernet Franc that’s balanced, has laser-like precision, and a great finish. This isn’t the biggest or richest wine in the lineup, but it’s Cabernet Franc in all its glory, with soaring aromatics and complexity, ample richness and texture, and a beautiful sense of finesse and elegance. It’s going to keep for 15-20 years with no issues.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Lithology Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is a barrel sample with a deep garnet-purple color. It needs a fair bit of coaxing to unlock scents of blackberry pie, warm blueberries and cassis plus suggestions of spice cake, underbrush, candied violets and chocolate box. The full-bodied palate brings forth loads of earthy layers to accent the rich, black fruits, framed by plush tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
-Wine Advocate 97 to 99 points
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lithology Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is one of the very finest wines I have tasted from Alejandro Bulgheroni's Napa Valley project. The 2019 To Kalon captures all the pedigree of this iconic Oakville vineyard, and yet also remains nuanced and wonderfully finessed for an intense wine. To Kalon Cabernets are rarely this elegant, but the Bulgheroni 2019 sure is.
-- Antonio Galloni 97 Points
Winemaker Landon Donley considers Sauvignon Blanc to be the premier white wine of Napa Valley. Quattro Theory Sauvignon Blanc captures the best Napa Valley expression of this varietal.
Our Sauvignon Blanc is grown in our estate Mary’s Vineyard in Calistoga, containing some of the oldest Sauvignon Blanc plantings in Napa Valley at more than 30 years old. The old vines offer concentration and complimentary young vines add vibrance, and a small amount of Semillon from the estate adds a roundness to the wine.
Every step of the winemaking process is designed to heighten the natural aromatics, flavor and vibrant acidity of Sauvignon Blanc: each lot of fruit is chilled, then whole-cluster pressed over two hours with 23 check-ins to isolate exactly the press of juice we want.
With its intense aromatics, vibrant fruit and bright acidity, this Sauvignon Blanc is refreshing and offers concentration, complexity and long finish that make it enjoyable on its own, interesting from first sip to last, as well as an ideal complement to food.
Suggested pairings: fresh oysters, lemon-herb roasted chicken and goat cheese salad.
Review:
Brilliant and vibrant, this nicely nervy wine is packed with limes, lemons and grassy nuances. A touch of salinity gives it mouthwatering freshness plus a bit of food-friendly restraint.
-Wine Enthusiast 92 Points