Everyone knows there are few wine cellars in town that can boast what Sam Miller's collection has in store. You are fortunate to have the chance to add some of these to your own collection. Below is just a "few" details about each wine. As you can tell, Sam loves each wine and the story they tell. We hope you get the chance to take these home with you.
6 “Cult” Cabernets and Bordeaux Blends from “Sam’s Club”
Est. Retail Value is $1300. (The Maiden $500, Perfect Season $150, Phelps Insignia $250, Hobel $125, Pahlmeyer $250, Myriad $150).
2016 Myriad Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard
Founded in 2006 by winemaker Mike Smith, Myriad Cellars is a winery that takes pride in allowing their wine to showcase itself to the fullest extent focusing on premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wines. Myriad sources grapes from highly acclaimed California vineyards including Dr. Crane, Beckstoffer Georges III, Las Madres, and Steltzner. Mike makes wine for Carter Cellars, Quivet and others.
Coming all from the Martini clone and raised in 100% new French oak, the 2016 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon from the Steltzner Vineyard is a rich, powerful expression of the Stags Leap AVA that offers full-bodied notes of black currants, espresso roast, black licorice, and just a hint of flowers. This concentrated, yet incredibly pure 100% Cabernet Sauvignon has a big mid-palate push, sweet and round tannins, and that mike smith "power" with the velvet touch. It's an extraordinary wine yet is still primordial and in need of a good 2-4 years of bottle age to let all the complexities settle down and come together. (97 Points Robert Parker) (96 Points Jeb Dunnuck)
2015 Pahlmeyer Bordeaux Blend
This wine shows a deep crimson color in the glass. Brambly aromatics are layered with dark plum, cassis, ripe fig, and a touch of anise and cigar box. A powerful, fruit-driven entry on the palate—with notes of blackberry, molasses, bakers chocolate and leather—is supported by plush tannins that last over a lingering, juicy finish.
Composition
79% Cabernet Sauvignon
16% Merlot
3% Malbec
1% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot
(97 Points James Suckling) (95-97 Points Robert Parker) Parker says The 2015 Proprietary Red Wine... has super-concentration, a massive mouthfeel, heady, intense flavors of black and blue fruits, chocolate, wood spice and barbecue notes. It is a killer effort, and as so many of the 2015s, another magnificent vintage for Northern California. Drink 2018-2038.
2010 Hobel Cabernet Sauvignon
Classic California cabernet - darker in color, aromatically complex and broad shouldered. The nose is dominated by earth tones, a touch of herb and black walnut with layers of black current and cassis coaxed out with swirling. The mouth feel is structured, chewy and packed with flavor. Made by one of the elite winemakers in Napa, none other than Thomas Rivers Brown.
2014 Perfect Season Cabernet Sauvignon
This might be one of the very best Cabernets to come from Knight’s Valley (even better than Peter Michael, really!) The venture is owned by Norma Hunt (wife of the late Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt – who pretty much invented the Super Bowl). This gorgeous property is well-situated, and when you bring in the Quarterback – Wide Receiver duo of wine (Philippe Melka (winemaker to the stars and Jim Barbour, grower to the stars), you can only achieve one thing – SUPER BOWL-like fame with the accompanying quality. (96 Points Robert Parker) Parker says The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon <https://www.goldengatewinecellars.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2360> stays 18 months in 78% new French oak prior to being bottled unfiltered. It is a beautiful Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with scorched earth and charcoal/barbecue smoke intermixed with crème de cassis, blackberry, espresso and maybe a hint of chocolate. A wine of exceptional intensity and purity, this full-bodied, opulent wine is round, savory and generous. It is ideal for drinking over the next 15-20 years.”
2016 Harlan The Maiden Bordeaux Blend
Harlan For over two decades, Harlan Estate has been committed to creating a California "first growth" wine estate. Founded in 1984, Harlan Estate is set in the western hills of Oakville, rising above the fabled Napa Valley benchlands. Carved from the raw land and built for generations, the estate is over 240 acres of natural spendor, 15% of which are under vine, planted to the classic varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
The Maiden represents the second selection from Harlan Estate. It is a highly detailed and sumptuous wine, remarkably faithful to the vineyard's pedigree. Accordingly, the resemblance to her "big sister" is unmistakable. The first commercial vintage of Maiden was 1995 and was released in 1999. "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 The Maiden is a little closed to begin, giving way to notes of crushed blackberries, fresh blackcurrants, warm plums and black pepper with hints of tobacco, charcoal, menthol and underbrush. Full-bodied, the palate is taut and muscular, packed with tightly wound layers of black fruits and savory sparks, framed by ripe, grainy tannins and finishing on a lingering earthy note."
(94 Points Robert Parker) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 The Maiden is a little closed to begin, giving way to notes of crushed blackberries, fresh blackcurrants, warm plums and black pepper with hints of tobacco, charcoal, menthol and underbrush. Full-bodied, the palate is taut and muscular, packed with tightly wound layers of black fruits and savory sparks, framed by ripe, grainy tannins and finishing on a lingering earthy note.
2017 Joseph Phelps Insignia Bordeaux Blend
The flagship wine from Joseph Phelps is always one of Napa Valley’s very best Cabernet blends. Here is what critics say
97 points Wine Enthusiast
This estate-grown blend combines 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, allowing the main variety to speak loudest. Gorgeously perfumed, it unfurls wave after wave of cassis, dusty rock and cocoa powder - seasonings that boost secondary characteristics of black and red currant and cherry. *Cellar Selection* (VB) (11/2020)
96 points Decanter
This has a real sense of freshness and grip. A pure expression of Cabernet with a shot of eucalyptus and menthol, extremely concentrated but with elegance and power. The tannins just grip on to your palate and don't let go leading to a lovely chewy finish. This is great stuff, with a discernibly finessed style that shows a fine tannic balance magnified through the lens of Californian heat and laced through with cassis, espresso and chocolate block. Great structure, this will take a few decades of ageing in its stride. 100% new oak, from five vineyards around Napa Valley, mainly in Stags Leap and Oak Knoll. (JA) (8/2020)
96 points Int'l Wine Review
The 2017 Joseph Phelps Insignia is a fabulous showing in this vintage. The final blend is composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec, which spent 24 months in 100% new French oak. This immediately gets going with seductive aromatics of ripe black cherries, blackberries and hints of crème de cassis that are accented by baking spices, fresh violets, moist tobacco, hints of espresso and an earthy mineral character that all take shape and emerge beautifully from the glass. On the palate this is medium/full-bodied with excellent overall balance and poise. It delivers a mouthful of ripe dark/red fruits along with spice and mineral nuances that are framed beautifully by lovely acidity, which provides incredible energy and freshness through the long polished finish. While this is certainly impressive in its youth, it also has the characteristics to evolve for decades and looks as if the best is still yet to come. Insignia seems to have a track record of excelling in challenging vintages, and this is no exception, the 2017 is an absolutely sensational wine that should not be missed. (JD) (4/2020)
96 points Jeb Dunnuck
Tasted out of bottle, the 2017 Insignia is beautiful stuff that excels in the vintage. Revealing a dense purple color as well as stunning notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and earth, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a silky, seamless texture, building tannins, and a great finish. It has the more linear, elegant style of the vintage, yet it’s balanced, has ample concentration, and is just a gorgeous wine that will evolve for 30 years or more. (1/2021)
96 points James Suckling
A beautiful, focused wine with a tight center palate of blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate. Very subtle. Hints of mint and sage, too. Medium to full body and fine, racy tannins. A reserved and very pretty Insignia. Fresh finish. (1/2020)
96 points Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and blueberry pie plus touches of redcurrant jelly, potpourri, clove oil and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gained weight from it's in-barrel offering, boasting rich, decadently perfumed black fruit preserves flavors with a racy backbone and velvety tannins, finishing long and spicy. (LPB)
(10/2020)
6 “Cult” Cabernets and Bordeaux Blends from “Sam’s Club”
Est. Retail Value is $1300. (The Maiden $500, Perfect Season $150, Phelps Insignia $250, Hobel $125, Pahlmeyer $250, Myriad $150).
2016 Myriad Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard
Founded in 2006 by winemaker Mike Smith, Myriad Cellars is a winery that takes pride in allowing their wine to showcase itself to the fullest extent focusing on premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wines. Myriad sources grapes from highly acclaimed California vineyards including Dr. Crane, Beckstoffer Georges III, Las Madres, and Steltzner. Mike makes wine for Carter Cellars, Quivet and others.
Coming all from the Martini clone and raised in 100% new French oak, the 2016 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon from the Steltzner Vineyard is a rich, powerful expression of the Stags Leap AVA that offers full-bodied notes of black currants, espresso roast, black licorice, and just a hint of flowers. This concentrated, yet incredibly pure 100% Cabernet Sauvignon has a big mid-palate push, sweet and round tannins, and that mike smith "power" with the velvet touch. It's an extraordinary wine yet is still primordial and in need of a good 2-4 years of bottle age to let all the complexities settle down and come together. (97 Points Robert Parker) (96 Points Jeb Dunnuck)
2015 Pahlmeyer Bordeaux Blend
This wine shows a deep crimson color in the glass. Brambly aromatics are layered with dark plum, cassis, ripe fig, and a touch of anise and cigar box. A powerful, fruit-driven entry on the palate—with notes of blackberry, molasses, bakers chocolate and leather—is supported by plush tannins that last over a lingering, juicy finish.
Composition
79% Cabernet Sauvignon
16% Merlot
3% Malbec
1% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot
(97 Points James Suckling) (95-97 Points Robert Parker) Parker says The 2015 Proprietary Red Wine... has super-concentration, a massive mouthfeel, heady, intense flavors of black and blue fruits, chocolate, wood spice and barbecue notes. It is a killer effort, and as so many of the 2015s, another magnificent vintage for Northern California. Drink 2018-2038.
2010 Hobel Cabernet Sauvignon
Classic California cabernet - darker in color, aromatically complex and broad shouldered. The nose is dominated by earth tones, a touch of herb and black walnut with layers of black current and cassis coaxed out with swirling. The mouth feel is structured, chewy and packed with flavor. Made by one of the elite winemakers in Napa, none other than Thomas Rivers Brown.
2014 Perfect Season Cabernet Sauvignon
This might be one of the very best Cabernets to come from Knight’s Valley (even better than Peter Michael, really!) The venture is owned by Norma Hunt (wife of the late Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt – who pretty much invented the Super Bowl). This gorgeous property is well-situated, and when you bring in the Quarterback – Wide Receiver duo of wine (Philippe Melka (winemaker to the stars and Jim Barbour, grower to the stars), you can only achieve one thing – SUPER BOWL-like fame with the accompanying quality. (96 Points Robert Parker) Parker says The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon <https://www.goldengatewinecellars.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2360> stays 18 months in 78% new French oak prior to being bottled unfiltered. It is a beautiful Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with scorched earth and charcoal/barbecue smoke intermixed with crème de cassis, blackberry, espresso and maybe a hint of chocolate. A wine of exceptional intensity and purity, this full-bodied, opulent wine is round, savory and generous. It is ideal for drinking over the next 15-20 years.”
2016 Harlan The Maiden Bordeaux Blend
Harlan For over two decades, Harlan Estate has been committed to creating a California "first growth" wine estate. Founded in 1984, Harlan Estate is set in the western hills of Oakville, rising above the fabled Napa Valley benchlands. Carved from the raw land and built for generations, the estate is over 240 acres of natural spendor, 15% of which are under vine, planted to the classic varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
The Maiden represents the second selection from Harlan Estate. It is a highly detailed and sumptuous wine, remarkably faithful to the vineyard's pedigree. Accordingly, the resemblance to her "big sister" is unmistakable. The first commercial vintage of Maiden was 1995 and was released in 1999. "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 The Maiden is a little closed to begin, giving way to notes of crushed blackberries, fresh blackcurrants, warm plums and black pepper with hints of tobacco, charcoal, menthol and underbrush. Full-bodied, the palate is taut and muscular, packed with tightly wound layers of black fruits and savory sparks, framed by ripe, grainy tannins and finishing on a lingering earthy note."
(94 Points Robert Parker) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 The Maiden is a little closed to begin, giving way to notes of crushed blackberries, fresh blackcurrants, warm plums and black pepper with hints of tobacco, charcoal, menthol and underbrush. Full-bodied, the palate is taut and muscular, packed with tightly wound layers of black fruits and savory sparks, framed by ripe, grainy tannins and finishing on a lingering earthy note.
2017 Joseph Phelps Insignia Bordeaux Blend
The flagship wine from Joseph Phelps is always one of Napa Valley’s very best Cabernet blends. Here is what critics say
97 points Wine Enthusiast
This estate-grown blend combines 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, allowing the main variety to speak loudest. Gorgeously perfumed, it unfurls wave after wave of cassis, dusty rock and cocoa powder - seasonings that boost secondary characteristics of black and red currant and cherry. *Cellar Selection* (VB) (11/2020)
96 points Decanter
This has a real sense of freshness and grip. A pure expression of Cabernet with a shot of eucalyptus and menthol, extremely concentrated but with elegance and power. The tannins just grip on to your palate and don't let go leading to a lovely chewy finish. This is great stuff, with a discernibly finessed style that shows a fine tannic balance magnified through the lens of Californian heat and laced through with cassis, espresso and chocolate block. Great structure, this will take a few decades of ageing in its stride. 100% new oak, from five vineyards around Napa Valley, mainly in Stags Leap and Oak Knoll. (JA) (8/2020)
96 points Int'l Wine Review
The 2017 Joseph Phelps Insignia is a fabulous showing in this vintage. The final blend is composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec, which spent 24 months in 100% new French oak. This immediately gets going with seductive aromatics of ripe black cherries, blackberries and hints of crème de cassis that are accented by baking spices, fresh violets, moist tobacco, hints of espresso and an earthy mineral character that all take shape and emerge beautifully from the glass. On the palate this is medium/full-bodied with excellent overall balance and poise. It delivers a mouthful of ripe dark/red fruits along with spice and mineral nuances that are framed beautifully by lovely acidity, which provides incredible energy and freshness through the long polished finish. While this is certainly impressive in its youth, it also has the characteristics to evolve for decades and looks as if the best is still yet to come. Insignia seems to have a track record of excelling in challenging vintages, and this is no exception, the 2017 is an absolutely sensational wine that should not be missed. (JD) (4/2020)
96 points Jeb Dunnuck
Tasted out of bottle, the 2017 Insignia is beautiful stuff that excels in the vintage. Revealing a dense purple color as well as stunning notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and earth, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a silky, seamless texture, building tannins, and a great finish. It has the more linear, elegant style of the vintage, yet it’s balanced, has ample concentration, and is just a gorgeous wine that will evolve for 30 years or more. (1/2021)
96 points James Suckling
A beautiful, focused wine with a tight center palate of blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate. Very subtle. Hints of mint and sage, too. Medium to full body and fine, racy tannins. A reserved and very pretty Insignia. Fresh finish. (1/2020)
96 points Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and blueberry pie plus touches of redcurrant jelly, potpourri, clove oil and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gained weight from it's in-barrel offering, boasting rich, decadently perfumed black fruit preserves flavors with a racy backbone and velvety tannins, finishing long and spicy. (LPB)
(10/2020)
$1,050 - 15 bids
Minimum Bid Increment:
$50
Value:
$1,300
Donated By:
Sam Miller