High Rollers Cabernet Club

This quarter’s (Autumn) Twelve Picks Wine Club costs $359.46 and includes the following wines:

Red Wines:

2022 Fulcrum Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel 92+ Points
Rich, ripe and forthcoming, the emerging nose of this Napa Cab delivers aromas of purple plum compote, blackberry, blueberry and black currant fruit in harmony with others of clove, nutmeg, black tea leaf and a hint of bresaola. It proves as ripe as expected on the palate, where the focused fruit is plump and juicy, if firmed by a bit of tannin. The finish is rich and lingering and as fruit-forward as promised, and this Cab seems ideally built for service with steaks and darkly caramelized roasts. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc & 6% Petite Verdot. 130 cases produced.

2023 Luuma Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll, Napa Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel 92 Points
Forthcoming and appealing as soon as the cork pulled, this attractive bottling has focused aromas of cassis, blackberry syrup, dark plum jam, dried black fig, peppercorn, vanilla, clove, and dark tobacco. It is medium-bodied and has subtly gripping tannins and a good deal of peppery spice on the palate, which makes the fruit flavors seem dryer, more balanced and already dinner worthy. The finish is long and satisfying, as the tannins join zest to brighten the focus. It should be even tastier in another twelve to eighteen months. 1458 cases produced. 

2020 Rocky Pond “Proprietary Rock”, Double D Vineyard Red Wine, Columbia Valley, Washington
San Francisco Wine Panel 93 Points
This gutsy blend of Cabernet, Malbec & Merlot sports gradually emerging aromas focused on blackberry, blueberry, purple plum, violet and dark earth supported by cedar, mocha and licorice. It is as firm and food balanced as expected on the palate, where flavors of dark plum jam, blueberry, bitter chocolate and a bit of licorice carry through a long, gently gripping finish. It should serve really nicely, especially after decanting, with a grilled steak or darkly caramelized beef roast. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Malbec, 5% Mourvedre, 4% Merlot and 2% Syrah. 1,300 cases produced. 

2021 Table Eleven Syrah Thompson Vineyard, Alisos Canyon, Santa Barbara
San Francisco Wine Panel 94 Points
In the past Table Eleven has produced Syrah of great elegance from Thompson Vineyard and this is yet another fine example. Surprisingly gracious, the aromas are a focused medley of bright raspberry, sour red cherry, pomegranate, Campari and violet scents, elegantly accented by spice notes of pink rose, pink & black peppercorn and toasted hazelnut. It is sleek in mouthfeel, supple and extremely long-lingering on the palate, where the tannins are polished and the flavors attractively piquant. Raspberry, cherry pit, Campari and pink peppercorn are highlight notes at the end and this beauty really opens up with airing. Delicious as it already is, it is certain to grow ever finer for at least the next 18 months and likely after. 58 cases produced. 

2021 Kirchhoff Tempranillo Yolo County
San Francisco Wine Panel 92+ Points
This impressive, youthful, yet already distinctive wine offers (for a young Tempranillo) surprisingly well-evolved aromas of dry red cherry, cherry galette, dry cranberry, star anise, tiger lily and mincemeat. In the mouth, it is slightly tart, subtly tannic, yet it is flavorful and impressively long on the palate, where it delivers generous flavors that are a lingering mirror of the nose. This already fine dinner wine opens significantly with airing and will be even better in another two years or so. 96 cases produced.

2021 Neilson Pinot Noir Monterey County & Santa Barbara County
San Francisco Wine Panel 91+Points
This distinctive new Neilson bottling is attractively forthcoming in both aroma and flavor expression. The nose is a quietly sophisticated medley of sweet fresh and dried cherries, dried cranberry, panetone, licorice root, toffee and hazelnut scents. It is more youthful, if a trace less developed, on the palate, where the savory notes are as attractive as the bright fruit. The finish is complex and lingering, and shows a well developed dinner balance already, although the wine may still be twelve to eighteen months away from showing its all.

White Wines:

2021 Oceano Chardonnay Spanish Springs , San Luis Obispo Coast
San Francisco Wine Panel 92+ Points
Well delineated aromas of green apple, white peach, pear, quince, preserved lemon, applesauce and vanilla cream find an impressive and appealing harmony is this beautifully made coastal Chardonnay. On the palate, a deft balance of genteel creaminess and polished zest elevates focused flavors centered on peach, pear, applesauce, lemon curd and vanilla. The notably long finish proves as harmonious and food-balanced as could be hoped and this already delicious wine should provide great pleasure for several more years. 537 cases produced. 

2021 Bonneau Chardonnay Catherine Vineyard Carneros
San Francisco Wine Panel 92 Points
This rather European-styled Chardonnay is pretty, soft-edged and gently creamy to the nose, where firm white and yellow peach, baked apple, preserved lemon, vanilla wafer, and nutmeg scents find a genteel harmony. An undercurrent of minerality brings firmness to the palate, where white peach, apple, golden mulberry, honey and hazelnut nougat flavors find an elegant, food worthy balance and linger attractively. Built for food service yet quite appealing when served by itself, it is ready to enjoy. 200 cases produced.

2023 Oro Puro Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Napa Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel 92 Points
Distinctive, rich and appealing, is the nose of this generous if somewhat slow to unfold two grape medley. It offers aromas of white peach, guava, golden fig and honeydew melon, with lemon grass and parsley counterpoints. In the mouth, it is medium-bodied and delivers flavors that deftly replicate the aromas, while proving gently palate-coating, fruity, food-balanced and of significant length. It is already very tasty and is certain to be even better in six to twelve months and beyond. 135 cases produced. 

2023 Handley Gewurztraminer Anderson Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel 92+ Points
Attractively rich and well defined, the nose of this highly regarded Mendocino Gewurztraminer offers aromas of grapefruit, honeydew melon, jasmine, lemon grass, and white pepper. It is sleek and flavorful in the mouth, where a suggestion of lemon grass accents richer flavors of honeysuckle, jasmine, white pepper, honeydew melon and grilled grapefruit. Dry and gently piquant, the finish is long-lasting and food worthy. Tasty already, it will be even better six to twelve months from now. Certified Organic. 344 cases produced. 

2023 Copain Daybreak White, Sonoma County
San Francisco Wine Panel 91+ Points
Floral notes of lavender, orange blossom, honeysuckle and jasmine highlight richer aromas of ripe pear in the nose of this delightfully floral bottling. Fresh pear, pear skin, honeysuckle, lavender and a hint of orange peel dominate on the palate, where the wine is impressive for fine balance, focus and length. A vibrant finish truly completes the wine, which should be an ideal companion to sautéed sole in herbed butter sauce yet is zesty enough for service with sashimi. A blend of 37% Malvasia, 29% Riesling, 13% Gewurztraminer, 8% Viognier and 4% Chardonnay. 1073 6-packs produced. 

2023 Whitehall Lane Rosé of Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap
San Francisco Wine Panel 92 Points
This pretty Rosé opens with generous, fruit forward aromas of white cherry, raspberry cream sickle, strawberry, red apple skin and cherry counterpointed by suggestions of pink peppercorn and hazelnut. Piquant, yet rich, the flavors offer notes of cherry pit, apple core, lemon peel as entree to richer tones of white cherry, strawberry, watermelon and mace. It is ready to enjoy. 277 cases produced.