2016 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, 2018 Pinot Noir Oregon, 2019 Pinot Noir 'Isabelle', 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Ynez Valley Sanford and Benedict Vineyard, 2019 Barham Mendelsohn Russian River Valley Estate Grown (2 bottles) Our guest winemaker in 2005 and again in 2017, Jim Clendenen founded Au Bon Climat winery in Santa Barbara County in 1982, determined to make classic, Burgundian-styled wines. The morning fog in the Santa Maria Valley creates the cool weather necessary for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Clendenen and his winery have won "Winemaker of the Year and Winery of the Year" several times over the last three decades. In 2000 Jim Clendenen formed a joint venture with growers Barbara Barham Mendelsohn and Richard Mendelsohn in Sonoma's Russian River Valley.

A wine for celebration! One of the first featured winemakers for the Akron Art Museum's Auction, Akron's Tom Burgess founded Burgess Cellars in 1972, purchasing vineyards that had been first planted in the 1870s. Located on the steep slopes of Howell Mountain, north of Yountville in Napa, the rugged terrain stresses the grapes. This lowers the yield but intensifies the flavor of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Syrah grapes. Fine red wines kept in large format bottles age much more slowly than their 750 ml counterparts; this 40-year-old wine remains full of intensity and flavor. .

A three-bottle vertical of Isosceles, the flagship wine from Justin in the original wooden box. In 2019, Justin was the featured winery for the Akron Art Museum's Auction, introducing many to these wines from Paso Robles. South of San Francisco, this region has a perfect microclimate for Cabernet Sauvignon, offering the widest day-night temperature swings of any of California's grape-growing regions. The hot days allow the grapes to develop intense flavor, while cool nights create great structure and balance. Justin Baldwin planted his first vines there in 1981, with a mission to make world-class Bordeaux-style blends, growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The wine has smooth intense flavors of plum, toast and chocolate. It is dense, balanced, with a long, concentrated finish.

Opus One was founded in 1978 as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philip de Rothschild (owner of Chateau Lafite Rothschild); their goal has been to produce a great Bordeaux from the To Kalon vineyard near Oakville. They demanded great attention to even the smallest details from the choice of varietal clones, the trellising, growing, harvesting, the crush, fermentation; the juice spends extra months in the oak barrels, all to produce Opus One, a wine to rival the Premier Cru wines of France. The wine is smooth and silky with subtle aromas of fragrant florals, fresh garden herbs that give way to a concentrated blend of red cherry, blackberry and black currant. It exhibits fine-grained tannins, a velvety texture and complex structure with a long, vibrantly fresh finish. Drinking window 2020-2037. 97 points from James Suckling, 96 Points, Wine Advocate

Scarecrow uses grapes from the legendary vineyard that once belonged to Inglenook winemaker Gustave Niebaum in Napa Valley. Some of the best grapes grown in Napa, they are purchased by Opus One, Duckhorn, Joseph Phelps for his Insignia. The wine is deep purple in color with a nose of cassis, dark chocolate and expresso. The wine is full-bodied with great concentration. The finish is fresh and lengthy. The two bottles are in their original wooden box. Drink now through 2030. Rated 94 Points.

One bottle each of 2018 and 2019 Williams Selyem West Side Neighbors Pinot Noir. In 1979, Burt Williams and Ed Selyem decided to try making wine, purchasing Zinfandel grapes from the Martinelli family. By 1981, they became legitimate winemakers, creating their first vintage in 1982. By 1987 the Williams Selyem Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir won the sweepstakes prize for best red wine at the California State Fair. Since that time, the Pinot Noirs from this Russian River Valley winery have been in high demand, available only by subscription. Both the 2018 and 2019 have a gorgeous nose of red fruit and fresh orange; the wine is like velvet, saturating the palate. The tannins are refined and subtle.

Far Niente Vineyard's Dolce (2013) represents the ultimate expression of late-harvest winemaking, proudly standing as America's only winery to specialize in a single, exquisite dessert wine crafted in the cherished Sauternes style. Tucked east of Napa in Coombsville at the foot of the Vaca Mountains, the 20-acre Dolce Vineyard is a rare gem. Here, ideal conditions foster the production of Dolce, an extraordinary late-harvest wine crafted from a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, shaped by careful cultivation-and a gentle nudge from Mother Nature herself.

From the Bennett Valley in Sonoma County, this lovely 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is made in a bright fresh style. It offers bright aromas of lime and kiwi, a pure, fresh fruit texture, and a long, perfumed finish. The winemaker, Jesse Katz, is one of the most respected in California; the Dry Stack vineyard at Aesthete offers unique terroir for growing the highest quality grapes.

Clos du Val was founded in 1972 by a couple from France who wanted to create a Cabernet Sauvignon that would rival the great Bordeaux wines. Four years later, the Cabernet Sauvignon from this Stags Leap winery was part of the 1976 Judgment of Paris, (coming in fifth) and won first place in 1986, at the rematch of the 1976 entrants. The winery is now held by the grandchildren of the founders. The Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied, silky and refined, an inky purple hue with aromas of black fruits, baking spices and dark chocolate. The Clos Du Val is made in the classical Bordeaux style, about balance and elegance, rather than abundance.

Experience the pinnacle of winemaking with Dry Creek Vineyards VIP Selection 5-Barrel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon. 2021 was a suberb vintage in Napa; a long drought produced smaller clusters, but intensified the flavors in the grapes. This Bordeaux-style wine, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, is aged over 20 months. Luxurious aromas of black cherry, currant lead to a palate with rich blueberry, espresso and hints of cinnamon, it promises complexity and vibrant flavors from start to finish.

An elegant selection of Pinot Noir that have aged spectacularly. 2014 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir - Gap's Crown Vineyard: a fabulous wine with notes of black cherries, violets and spice, medium-bodied and elegant. 94+ points. 2012 Maybach Pinot Noir - Irmgard Vineyard produces beautiful wines every year. Purple colors, Black fruit aromas and flavors. 94 points. 2012 Rhys Vineyards Pinot Noir - Home Vineyard. From the Central Coast, this Pinot is fresh in its aromas and flavors, Burgundian in style. 93+ points. 2010 Failla Pinot Noir - Occidental Ridge Vineyard. This wine shows a red fruit profile intermingled with white flowers, blood orange and star anise. 94 points. 2012 Rivers Marie Pinot Noir - Summa Vineyard. Aromas of sage, rosemary and dried cherries explode from the glass. 96 points. 2012 Rivers Marie Pinot Noir - Occidental Ridge, a very dense Pinot Noir with firm tannins. 94 points.

Mercury Head is the pinnacle of pure Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley, seen through our eyes. A complex tapestry of the region' s different microclimates , only the best vineyard blocks and their resulting wines make it into the final blend after numerous trials. For 2022, much of the blend comes from the Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak alongside the Warnock Vineyard close -by. In addition, fruit from the famed Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford rounds out the wine with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from just west of the AVA line at the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard on Moon Mountain.

2008 was a dry year in Napa; yields were low, concentrating the flavor in the grapes. The grapes are sourced from the benchlands of Napa Valley, the alluvial fan benches at the foot of the mountains that rise above the valley floor in Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena. Cain Concept is a Bordeaux blend, Cabernet Sauvignon mixed with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The wine has a silky taste, with fine tannins, and a gentle finish.

You Had Me at Hell No is a new release from Dave Phinney of Orin Swift; available only at the winery or in restaurants. The name was inspired by scrawlings on a bathroom wall at a bar. For over 20 years, Dave Phinney has been producing exciting wines: The Prisoner (using Zinfandel, blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Charbono), the Locations wines, each focusing on a varietal from the country. For this newest venture, Phinney focuses on Merlot, creating a blend with 77% Merlot, with Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. The wine has aromas of rich fruit and spices, gentle tannins and a smooth finish. Included is a book "Advice from John", with a collection of wisdom scribbled on dive bar bathroom walls, the source of the art on the label. Not for sale on the open market in Ohio.

The 2013 Fiddlehead Seven Twenty Eight is a Pinot Noir from the Santa Rita Hills area near Santa Barbara. Blessed with fog each morning and cool breezes from the Pacific, the Pinot Noir grapes mature slowly. The wine is named from the 7.28 Coastal Highway Marker at the entrance to the vineyard. The wine has great color, a perfumed bouquet of dark berries, an intense flavor and a spicy, persistent finish.

From Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars, 3 bottles of her 2014 "728 Bubbles" Blanc de Noir sparkling wine. Using the Method Champenoise, the grapes are picked with relatively low sugar and high acid to create an elegant sparkling wine that is lively on the palate, bursting with bubbly expressions of Fiddlestix Vineyard. Quite Yummy!

Two bottles each from the 2011 and 2013 vintages of the 728 Pinot Noir from Fiddlehead Cellars. Kathy Joseph established Fiddlehead Cellars in 1989 to capture the pure essence of Pinot Noir. She chose two locations - the Santa Rita Hills near Santa Barbara and the Willamette Valley-because both provided ideal terroir for Pinot Noir, cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean and mineral soils, and were just emerging as potential wine regions in 1989. The signature wine from Fiddlehead Cellars, the 728 Pinot Noir is from the Santa Rita Hills vineyard, named for the 7.28 mile highway sign at the entrance to the vineyard. The wines reveal an elegance, with texture and concentration, soft tannins that linger; this is not a wimpy Pinot Noir.

From Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars, 3 bottles of Allora Barrel Select Pinot Noir: 2014, 2015, 2017. In years with ideal growing conditions, the very best of the Pinot Noir grapes from the Allora Vineyard' are placed in a single barrel, to create the "Alloro" Barrel Select Pinot Noir. The one barrel yields a maximum of 20 cases (240 bottles) of this superb Pinot Noir. The wine has a spicy nose of dark red fruit, bright acidity, a lovely Pinot Noir for sipping or to enjoy with a meal.

Founded in 1989 on the eastern edge of Rutherford, at the foot of the Vaca Mountain range, Quintessa has vineyards with varied terrain. The 2021 Quintessa was rated a perfect 100 by Wine Enthusiast. This 2021 Bordeaux-blend from Quintessa unfolds with a balance of complex fruit, precise structure, and vital freshness. The wine has floral notes of violet and lilac. On the palate, firm but fine-grained tannins back dark berry and savory herb flavors interwoven with graphite and iron. Generous texture carries the complex layers to a fine, chalky finish. This is a Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Carménère, 1% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. Best from 2026-2040.

One bottle each of 2019 Kenzo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Ai and 2019 Kenzo Estate Murasaki. Japanese video-game developer Kenzo Tsujimoto became enchanted with Napa Valley. He purchased land in the southeast corner of Napa in 1990. In 2001, David Abreu, who had worked with Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, and Colgin Cellars oversaw planting to match the varietals to the terroir. Winemaker Heidi Barrett (who had worked with Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle) collaborated to create superior, accessible wines. The 2019 Cabernet Ai is opulent, a full-bodied Napa Cabernet, with aromas of plums, blackberries and creamy tannins. The Kenzo Murasaki is a blend of 88% Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec. This has a savory, black-fruited style, a seamless profile, full-bodied palate and lingering finish.

2023 Granville Chardonnay Koosah Vineyard and 2022 Granville Pinot Noir Temperance Hill plus 2022 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay Maple Grove and Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir Zena Crown. Winemakers search for terroir and climate similar to Burgundy, France: chalk, clay, limestone and great drainage, plus cool temperatures. Granville Winery found this in the volcanic soils of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, growing on one of the steepest vineyards in the valley to produce a superb Chardonnay, with real depth of flavor, and a Pinot Noir with a velvety texture. Hamilton Russell Vineyards in South Africa, founded in 1975, is cooled by the nearby ocean breezes. The Chardonnay, known for its length and complexity and the elegant and spicy Pinot Noir from Hamilton Russell Vineyards are consistently ranked as the best from South Africa, and among the finest in the world.

By the 1980s, growers looked for other areas as vineyard land in Napa and Sonoma became expensive. Near Santa Barbara, they found the Santa Rita Hills area of the Santa Ynez Valley; with cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean and morning fog, and soils derived from marine sands and sediments, this area was ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Included in this lot are three bottles of 2022 Pinot Noir wines from Brewer Clifton: the 2022 Brewer Clifton Hapgood Pinot Noir (rated 98 by Wine Enthusiast), the Perilune Pinot Noir (rated 96) and the Perilune Vineyard Pinot Noir (rated 92). In addition, the lot has two bottles of the 2022 Sea Smoke, the Pinot Noir Southing (rated 93) and Pinot Noir Ten (rated 95). The cooling fog (aka "sea smoke") and south-facing bluffs create an ideal terroir for the grapes. The Sea Smoke Pinots have seductive flavors and fine tannins, elegant and well balanced.

Our featured wine at the auction in 2021, Daou Winery is located at an elevation of 2200 feet on the rugged coastal range west of Paso Robles. In the 1960s, Paul Draper founded Ridge Winery nearby; his red blend, Ridge Monte Bello, placed fifth in the Judgment of Paris, proving that the terroir of Paso Robles could produce superb wine. Daou grows Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. Their flagship wine, Soul of a Lion, has rich fruit aromas, full-bodied with bright acidity, a complex wine with voluptuous texture and a great finish (rated 95). The 2019 Daou Seventeen Forty Reserve, 66% Cab Franc with 34% Merlot, is bold, with aromas of wild berries, plush layers of fruit, long, finish, rated 94 by Wine Enthusiast. The 2020 Daou Vineyards Estate Mayote, a Bordeaux-blend of Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot is plush, a full-bodied wine with a long finish. (rated 94-96)

The Mayacamas Mountains create the border between Napa and Sonoma Counties; in 1889, John Fisher built a winery on what was remote mountain property at the top of Mt. Veeder and planted Zinfandel. In the 1940s, the vineyards were planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay at the higher, cooler elevations. The 1971 Mayacamas Cab was part of the Judgment of Paris in 1976. The 2019 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, bombastic wine, with a blast of dark fruit, an elegant and opulent wine, best from 2025-2045.(rated 97). The Merlot shows great finesse, with subtle berry aromas, silky tannnins and a rich and flavorful finish. Delicious now but age-worthy (rated 93).

Vertical of Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Songbook 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 In 2002 Cliff Lede acquired 60 acres, what had been S. Anderson winery in the Stags Leap District of Napa, and founded Cliff Lede Vineyards. He redesigned and replanted the majority of the estate. To keep track of the specific soil types, exposures, and varietals, he named the individual blocks after his favorite rock songs. Songbook is a Bordeaux-blend, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, with small percentages of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The grapes come from hillside vineyards that produce low yields of intensely flavorful grapes. Consistently among the top 10 Stags Leap District wines, rating from 94-97, Songbook is noted for its intensity, a rich and dramatic wine. This wine is still very young and tight; drink from 2030-2045.

A collection of 6 wines from botique Remy Winery located in Willamette Valley Oregon. Community organizer, winemaker and now Mayor, Remy Drabkin is breaking glass ceilings. After making wine all around the world, Drabkin, a self-identified queer winemaker, returned to her hometown, McMinnville, where she opened Remy Wines in 2006. The 29-acre property (with 7 acres planted) in Willamette Valley specializes in northern Italian varieties grown in the Pacific Northwest. Includes: Three Wives 2014 Remy's Red blend of 37% Pinot Noir, 37% Dolcetto, 21% Lagrein, and 5% Carmenere; Three Wives Remallaia 2015 Super Tuscan Blend; Sangiovese 2015; Sangiovese Reserva 2014; Barbera 2014; and Three Wives Giulio Pinot Noir 2015.

In its pursuit of making Chardonnays in Sonoma that rival the great French white burgundies, the Kistler wines are all single-vineyard, so that each of their Chardonnays displays the terroir of the specific vineyard. The Stone Flat Vineyard is in the Russian River Valley, the 420A Chardonnay rootstock growing in the gravelly soil of what had been the river bed in past millenia. The 2021 Kistler Stone Flat Vineyard Chardonnay has alluring tones of honey, almonds, jasmine, a core of peachy fruit balanced with a gentle chalkiness and a burst of tangy acidity. This is powerful, with a long life ahead. Rated 94-97

The Kistler Hudson Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay has been rated one of the of the top 5 Carneros wines. Because of the cooling fog produced by San Francisco Bay, the Carneros region has ideal weather for growing Chardonnay. Grapes have been grown in what is now designated as the Hudson Vineyard in the Carneros District since the 1830s. In the 1880s, the first successful experiments in phylloxera-resistant rootstocks were developed here - rootstocks that saved the French wine industry. In this century, owner Robert Hudson has focused on producing premium Chardonnay grapes, contracted to Ramey, Kongsgaard, Kistler and others. The 2021 Kistler Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay has attractive aromas of orchard fruit and fresh herbs, with a full-bodied palate; a sense a ripe melon lingers on the finish; ready to drink now or over the next 10 years. Rated 94 - 97. Drink now or over the next 10 years.

Since 1988, Kistler has produced a superb Chardonnay from its McCrea Vineyard on the eastern flank bench of Sonoma Mountain. The soil, a mix of volcanic and limestone, produces an elegantly scented chardonnay, perfumed by delicate floral aromas, and a chalk-like, subtle core of fruit and lovely acidity. This is well-balanced, and long-lasting on the palate. Rated from 94-97. Drink now or over the next decade.