Spring is just around the corner and we are quickly gearing up for the next round of wines for our wine club. We met with dozens of producers over the last few months and came to the final conclusion and selected 9 amazing wines for our wine club! These six wines in the cadet selections have an amazing variety behind them and offer members a special treat with a glimpse into our Elite Club with the Okapi library offering.
The scores quickly came in and our Tasting Panel was able to assemble a really fun and unique wine club shipment for our members. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did while sampling together. Purchase these wines on our website or join the club to secure this selection.
Club Allocation:
Club Elite will receive TWO of each wine.
Club Flight will receive ONE of each wine.
2013 Mathew Bruno Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Winery Price: $120
What We Love: Up-and-comer Mathew Bruno just opened their tasting room in 2022, the wines are highly respected by critics, and over-deliver for their price point.
Tasting notes: The 2013 Mathew Bruno Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding example of fine Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. The stylistic target and subtle adjustments in production are expressed in the most complementary fashion for a complex, structured and luscious tasting experience. The bright aromas will linger on your mind as you savor the occasion. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is an intense wine with complex layers of black cherry, currant, sweet spice and mocha. The mouthfeel is supple, with soft, toasty oak flavors balanced by firm tannins and structured by bright acidity.
Mathew Bruno is distinguished in the Napa Valley as one of the few wineries who produce a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Driven by the desire to make fruit-driven, approachable Cabernet Sauvignon true to the varietal’s attributes and superior quality, Mathew Bruno Wines proudly offers a flawless wine exhibiting the essence of what a Cabernet Sauvignon should be. This Cabernet Sauvignon is enjoyable today and will age for many years to come as we all fondly recall the superiority of the vintage 2013.
2018 Keplinger Sumo Red Blend, Amador County
Winery Price: $80
Winemaker Helen Keplinger; Kenzo, Bryant, Sarocka
What We Love: Amazing winemaker pedigree, elegant wine, classical twist on modern varietals.
Tasting notes: Sumo is a Cote Rotie twist on Petite Sirah – Petite Sirah co-fermented with Viognier and blended with a small amount of Syrah. The 2019 Sumo is a blend of 83% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, and 6% Viognier, all from Shake Ridge Vineyard. It has a “deep, dark nose of brambly blackberry, blueberry jam, black licorice, black cherry stones, violets, cassis bud, cedar, and a hint of white pepper. The palate has a silky entry with seamless, velvet-textured tannins throughout to the finish, subtly framing the blue and black fruit, asphalt, cherry blossom, dried herb and spice flavors on the palate.” 300 cases were produced.
This 2019 is delicious, rich, and just the perfect pairing with food or on its own. Helen Keplinger has been making great wine from her days at Paradigm, Kenzo, Bryant Estate and Grace Family Vineyard. But it is her own wines, Keplinger, that we think are expressive and of the highest quality at prices that over deliver.
2018 Mersenne Wines Merlot, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Winery Price: $79
What We Love: Howell mountain fruit always pleases, juicy wine with depth, brand is very selective in the vineyards
Tasting notes: This Merlot is rich, vibrant, and flavorful with loads of depth and complexity. There are flavors of black cherry, cocoa, plum, and raspberries complimented by a lush and velvety tannin structure. Aromas of warm fruit, vanilla, cocoa, and a hints of graphite. Definitely not a boring wine!
The White Cottage vineyard is located at an elevation of 1500 feet on the western slopes of the iconic Howell Mountain appellation in the Napa Valley.
All great wines start with the careful management of the vineyard. Winemaking begins long before the fruit is harvested. The process of guiding the vine to produce perfectly ripe fruit takes skill and dedication. We work closely with our growers and help guide each step throughout the year. We have been building relationships with experienced growers for over 20 years. Our focus is producing the finest grapes so that we can turn them into amazing wines.