Food & Gourmet Items

Item Description

Over 2 cases of amazing wine, including:

1 Magnum 2012 Caymus Special Selection (signed by winemaker Chuck Wagner)

Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon is the only wine in the world twice honored as "Wine of the Year" by Wine Spectator Magazine (chosen amongst approximately 10,000 wines). Our quality is the result of a singular focus on cabernet grape growing in a climate where the soils and vines respond very well. This bottling represents the best lots of the vintage. (Retail value = $330) 

2 Bottles of Phuc Wine, 2012 Proprietary Red

1 Bottle Vineyard 29 Estate 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, CA

From Vinyard 29. The 2011 vintage began with a wet winter. Spring ushered in an abundance of cool, rainy days that continued into early summer. During this time vines focused on canopy growth rather than reproductive growth, resulting in a minuscule fruit set in a cooler than average growing season. In order to fully maximize sun exposure, our strategy in the vineyards was to open up the canopies and allow the clusters to have direct sunlight and air flow. While the 2011 harvest was stingy with yields, this vineyard focused approach produced optimal flavors with lower brix levels, creating wines of great intensity, structure and acidity.

The 2011 29 Estate Cabernet is a pure expression of cabernet sauvignon. Aromatics on this regal wine boast savory notes of sage, dried lavender, new leather and bright red plums. A generous palate further entices with dark black fruits, violets and clean graphite while red currants provide a lingering touch of brightness. Firmer tannins and a bright acidity make this wine a perfect match for beautifully marbled New York Strip Steak. The 29 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon will benefit by 3 years of bottle age and generous decanting developing gracefully over the next 20 to 25 years. (Retail value = $250)

1 Bottle Robert Sinskey SDL Estate 2007

From Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley. Highly pigmented, purplish ruby color plays with light brilliantly in the glass, holding it, but allowing little to pass. Even the rim and tears show color. This wellstructured young wine is just beginning to develop, showing hints of what’s to come with seemingly corporeal aromas of cassis, sweet leaf, oak spice and the lightest touch of capsicum. Lush, ripe tannins weave a dense tapestry of intense flavors that recall black cassis, sweet herbs, mocha and vanilla. A big wine, no doubt, but a refreshing one, with an elegant structure that will merit a place at the dinner table for many years to come. (Retail value = $106)

1 Bottle Ehlers 1886 Cabernet Sauvingnon

Ripe and chewy, big and round, with beautifully resolved tannins. Great balance and structure, like an entire meal in a glass, with a finish that goes on forever. Complex, layered, and sophisticated. A classic Ehlers Estate “1886” that will continue to improve for decades. Tasting notes: Complex, layered, and sophisticated. Powerful and elegant, blackberries, espresso, caramel, leather, French plums, and sweet black currants. This wine is ripe and chewy, big and round, with beautifully resolved tannins. Great balance and structure, like an entire meal in a glass, with a finish that goes on forever. A classic Ehlers Estate “1886” that will continue to improve for decades. Vineyard Notes: 2012 was a great vintage in the Napa Valley. Early spring rains gave us just the water we needed to get the vines growing, then the warm weather set in right on cue. All summer long we enjoyed warm days and cool nights that were so beautiful it was almost too good to be true! A long mellow season with enough heat to polish the grapes and develop the flavors, and no extreme weather events to compromise the valley-wide excellence. Every grape on the estate was picked at optimum ripeness. Other notes: Farming: 100% CCOF Certified Organic Oak Regime: 100% French Oak, 70% New Primary Coopers: Nadalie, St. Martin, Baron, De Jarnac. (Retail value = $100)

1 Bottle Darioush 2012 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

1 Liter 2013 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Caymus Vineyards produces a Cabernet Sauvingnon with aromas and flavors which can only be achieved through “hang time” – a technique which chances the loss of crop if early winter sets in. Leaving the fruit to “hang” on the vine unusually long develops suppleness, increases color, and matures the tannins of the grapes. The wines are abundant in textural tannins yet soft as velvet. Crop thinning, allowing measured sunlight to reach the vine’s fruit zone, and waiting for increased ripeness are all part of our viticultural practices. Caymus Cabernets offer a wide array of aromas and flavors including cocoa, cassis and vanilla. (Retail value = $90)  

1 Liter 2013 Emmolo Merlot 

New Merlot from the folks at Caymus!  Jenny Wagner, daughter of Caymus' Chuck Wagner, has introduced this outstanding Merlot from her new label Emmolo. One of the best Napa Valley Merlots discovered this year. 

Grapes for this vintage were sourced from the Emmolo Oak Knoll vineyard located near the city of Napa in a sub-appellation called Oak Knoll. It’s ten miles nearer the San Francisco Bay than Rutherford and has a cooler microclimate. The site was strategically chosen for its soils and moderate climate, which are appropriate for growing Merlot.

93 Points James Suckling: "Opulent, juicy red with loads of fruit and spices. If you love full-throttle reds, you'll love this. But it's balanced. Chocolate, walnut, savory. Serious merlot. 15.3% alcohol but not a problem. One of the few exciting merlots from here."

Jenny Wagner, Winemaker:  " My goal for this wine was to create a well-balanced Merlot with superbly rich fruit,soft tannins and dark color. This first release exhibits aromas of mahogany smoke,leather and brown spice, while earthy flavors intertwine with caramelized plum and smooth tannins reminiscent of ground cocoa." (Retail value = $80)

1 Bottle Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

From Cliff Lede Vineyards in Napa Valley. Winemakers notes: Inky purple with blood-red tinged edges, the elegant and seamless 2013 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon's multilayered perfume fills the glass with notes of violets, lavender, and spring flowers. Intertwined with the floral notes are heady layers of plum, blackberry, and red currents. Silky, unctuous flavors of smoked cardamom, cinnamon, and black licorice lay out on the palate and finish with the taste and texture of liquefied rocks. Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot. (Retail value = $78) 

1 Bottle Patz & Hall Gap Crown Pinot Noir 2013

From Patz & Hall Gap's Crown vineyard in Sonoma. The more this spectacular vineyard matures, the more dramatic its wines become. Rich, concentrated and compelling, this is an epic Pinot Noir. At the same time, Gap’s Crown’s signature hyper-red fruit notes combined with good acidity and a steely minerality add poise and precision. On the palate, rich flavors of cherry compote and mulled holiday spices are supported by hints of lavender, rosemary and resin from a small amount of whole-cluster fermentation. While there is a smooth, velvety ripeness to this wine, the lingering finish has a grip that bodes well for a long life.

91+ Points | Wine Advocate: “The 2013 Pinot Noir Gap’s Crown Vineyard (15% whole clusters used and 65% new French oak aging) exhibits a dark ruby color along with a big, sweet bouquet of kirsch liqueur, raspberries, redcurrants, pomegranates, Provençal herbs, and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied with rich, zesty acidity as well as a long finish, it should drink well for 7-8 years.” - Robert Parker (Retail value = $70)

1 Bottle Tres Sabores 2006 Perspective Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

From family-owned organic Napa Valley winery, Tres Sabores. Deep ruby red color. Aromas of cassis, ripe blueberries and blackberries, bay leaf, cigar, plum and pomegranate. Needless to say nicely structured. Big on flavor, exceptional complexity and fine, silky tannins. Great finish. (Retail value = $65)

1 Bottle FEL 2013 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley

From FEL winery. Savoy Vineyard’s signature aromatics of black cherry, mint, and savory spices are particularly intense this vintage. As the wine breathes, the bouquet evolves and hints of cedar, toast, and cassis begin to appear. The weight and texture of the wine is particularly striking as flavors of black cherry, Bing cherry, kirsch, and Mission Fig explode in the mouth. Always among the most age-worthy of Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs, this Savoy will develop gracefully for many years to come. (Retail value = $65)

1 Bottle Kuleto Estate 2011 Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley

From Kuleto Estate vineyards in Napa Valley. "You may have heard how “disastrous”, or “hopelessly under-ripe” the 2011 vintage was from the press, but I can assure you that 2011 produced some of the finest wines ever at Kuleto Estate. Because of our altitude, quick-drying soils, and daily breezes, we never have trouble ripening fruit even in challenging years. Our 2011s are loaded with varietal character, perfectly balanced with acid and alcohol, and much more expressive that their warmer vintage counterparts. There are among my favorite wines ever made at Kuleto." (Retail value = $56)

1 Bottle ZD 45th Anniversary 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

From ZD winery in Napa Valley. This wine exhibits intense aromas of blackberry, plum and cassis with hints of cocoa, cedar and sweet vanilla. The palate is marked by incredibly concentrated black fruits enveloped with ripe, lush tannins, and well balanced acidity. It is drinking beautifully now, and will continue to develop complexity over many years to come. (Retail value = $55)

1 Bottle Red Schooner Voyage 2 Argentina Malbec

A "Caymus style" of Mendoza Malbec. Definitely an iron st in a velvet glove. Rich fine tannin - a Mendoza dust fine texture. There is a very refined character to this wine, which is special and singular. This wine is unfined and has already thrown a bit of sediment, representing the rich and natural concentration of abundant quality. (Retail value = $50)

1 Bottle Kuleto Estate 2012 Syrah, Napa Valley

From Kuleto Estate vineyards in Napa Valley. "Vintage 2012 was considered ‘perfect’ by the prognosticators as soon as the last grapes were making their way to the wineries. It was perfect in the sense that quality and quantity benefited both grower and winemaker. The weather cooperated throughout all critical parts of the growing season to produce beautifully ripe and flavorful fruit. As an experiment in 2011, we co-fermented destemmed Syrah with whole cluster Muscat. In the Northern Rhone, the white grape Viognier is often added to Syrah as fruit, pressed out skins, or finished wine to bring extra aromatics and, oddly enough, darker color to the finished reds (the extra tannin from the white wine ‘fixes’ the color of the Syrah to make it more stable). Muscat, like Viognier, has very tannic skins and is highly aromatic, so we figured ‘what the heck, let’s give it a go’. In 2011, the results were so positive, that we opted for an even higher percentage in 2012 to counteract a warmer and riper vintage. The result is surprisingly fresh and vibrant for wine produced from a warm mountain-top vineyard of the Napa Valley. The blueberry and white peach aromas swirl yin-yan-like inside layers of vanilla and sweet butter. Fresh fruit compote comes to mind. While generously alcoholic and warm, the acidity and Muscat skin tannins combine to produce a pleasing vibration throughout the palate. Though delicious now, I can’t wait to taste it in five or more years." (Retail value = $40)

1 Bottle FEL 2014 Anderson Valley Chardonnay

From FEL winery in Napa Valley. When crafting a wine like the 2014 Anderson Valley Chardonnay, a winemaker is rewarded for using a light touch and letting the fruit speak. By not using new oak and avoiding malolactic fermentation, this Chardonnay’s delicate aromas of lemon zest, Granny Smith apple, and honeydew melon are front and center. Subtle hints of freesia, quince, and brioche begin to show as the wine develops in the glass. This is a crisp, acid driven Chardonnay with abundant flavors of Meyer lemon and white grapefruit on the palate that pairs exquisitely with oysters and light seafood. (Retail value = $38)

1 Bottle FEL 2013 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

From FEL winery in Napa Valley. The intensity of the 2013 vintage is immediately apparent on the nose of the FEL Anderson Valley Pinot Noir which is rich with aromatics of black cherry, pomegranate, and cola. Hints of blackberry, mint, and toast add to the complexity. On the palate the wine sings with rich flavors of more cherry and spice. The robust tannins and ample acidity give the wine structure and definition that will ensure great ageability in the wine. (Retail value = $38)

1 Bottle Pacific Star 2013 Barbera, Mendocino County

An old favorite from Pacific Star Winery in Mendocino. (Retail value = $38)

1 Bottle Stepping Stone by Cornerstone 2011 Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley

The Stepping Stone by Cornerstone 2011 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley opens with alluring aromatics displaying lifted red berry, lavender and sweet basil notes with a touch of dried herbs, tobacco leaf and barrel spice playfully effusing from the glass. Beautifully balanced and supple, the palate is filled with bright flavors of red cherry and raspberry. Ripe tannins, round and plush flow through and grow with energy through a long and expansive palate with tobacco, herb and floral notes lingering on the finish. A pretty wine with plenty of textural elegance and finesse, its vibrant character makes for early enjoyment, but the rich structure and natural acidity will allow this wine to evolve beautifully with age. (Retail value = $35)

1 Bottle 2014 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay SLH

The Mer Soleil Vineyard is named for the two natural forces that create its growing conditions: sea (mer) and sun (soleil). With plantings at two separate locations in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County, our Mer Soleil Chardonnay vines are nestled on east-facing lower slopes of the Sierra de Salinas range in what is one of the coolest, direct grape-growing area in Califormia. The climate of this coastal appellation causes morning and evening fog and warm, bright afternoons, a combination that produces the high-quality fruit we use to make this bright, elegant Chardonnay. (Retail value = $32)

1 Bottle Rocky Creek 2011 Zinfandel, Paso Robles

A great wine from the family owned and operated winery, Rocky Creek Cellars. Exclusively in California, select vineyards East of Paso Robles produced these exotic black grapes. Providing excellent fruit structure, savor the forward fruit flavors and spicy overtones. (Retail value = $30)

1 Bottle Rocky Creek 2005 Syrah, Paso Robles

The grapes grown in this production are from the Rocky Creek Estate Vineyard, in Templeton.  It is a fabulous wine.  Moving from sweet and ripe to pepper and spice this renowned wine is a delight to drink. (Retail value = $28)

2 Bottles Cliff Lede 2014 Sauvignon Blanc

From Cliff Lede Vineyards in Napa Valley. This symphony of white varieties excelled in the harmonious 2014 vintage and this bottling is perhaps the most unctuous and opulent they’ve ever produced. With the color of yellow diamonds, this gem of a wine shines brilliantly in the glass and tempts with alluring aromas of tangerine, lemon verbena, fall persimmon, and honeyed white peach. Gorgeous floral notes of orange blossom, honeysuckle, and night blooming jasmine intertwine with the top notes of the effusive bouquet. The gentle battonage during fermentation brought out a seductive texture that coats the palate with layers of lemon curd, quince paste, and crème brulee. A vibrant spine of minerality supports the wonderfully rich texture and, as the lengthy finish unfolds, lovely flavors of kumquat, marzipan, and citrus marmalade fill the olfactory senses. (Retail value = $25 each)

1 Bottle FEL 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Gris

Green apple, lemon zest, and quince are the signature aromatics of the FEL 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Gris with hints of chamomile, struck flint, and fresh cut hay providing nuance to this wine’s compelling bouquet. Flavors of grapefruit and honeydew melon persist in the mouth, while the bright acidity punctuates the wine’s rich, oily mouthfeel on the finish. (Retail value = $25)

1 Bottle 2014 Silver Chardonnay, unoaked

From Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. (Retail value = $24) 

Item Special Note

Winner can take their new wine collection home from the party!