WineAccess Thread - Wines, Tasting Notes, Deals, etc.

[Marlon F]

is it me or first bottles were at the $30 range; sold out and now it seems that new bottles are in the $40ish area...

[Max S.]

is it me or first bottles were at the $30 range; sold out and now it seems that new bottles are in the $40ish area...

A lot of stuff on WA goes away and comes back at a higher price point.

[Peter C.]

Pretty sure this is Neal Family.

From a majestic estate that’s a Wine Enthusiast Editors’ Choice favorite at $45 per bottle...we assumed it was destined for the winery’s flagship $90 mountain-appellated bottlings...the Howell Mountain estate is a multigenerational passion project with over 40 years of Cabernet Sauvignon history

Neal’s Napa Valley Cab is $45 and was a WE Editors’ Choice back in 2007. Their Howell Mountain Cab goes for $90. I believe Neal is on its third generation, and while the winery is not 40 years old, their website says that they are “a family that has been dedicated to these vineyards for over 40 years.”

Tempted on this one...if I knew it was HM juice I’d definitely be in, but it’s labeled Napa Valley, not Howell Mountain. I already have a decent amount of private label 2018 cab at this price point, though.

This is almost certainly Neal. The WA description dances around whether the actual grapes in the bottle come from Howell, as opposed to Neal being located on Howell. Sounds to me like the source is somewhere in the valley farmed by Neal. I was just at Neal last week and Mark said he's involved in some aspect of the farming for about 10% of all napa valley cab production. So that doesn't narrow things down very much. Still for $20 I would bet it's a solid QPR.

Agree on Neal. And the 2016 Stay Home is Antica. I've drunk several bottles of the latter and it's a great value for $20 if it ever reappears.

Will try the 2018 tonight and drop an impression.

I like this better than the 2016 - it's 15.5% so I was expecting a mess but this moved to the top of my WA private label rankings, especially for value. Nothing is out of place and it's very fresh and lively despite the high alcohol. No heat at all, lot of blueberry, blackberry fruit.

[DavidC.]

Wineaccess canceling order?

Wineaccess cancelled my order all of a sudden. Now I couldn't login to my account. Anyone have this issue?

[Max S.]

Wineaccess canceling order?

Wineaccess cancelled my order all of a sudden. Now I couldn't login to my account. Anyone have this issue?

No, but they will probably get back to you pretty quickly if you email them.

[Sanjay M.]

One little bonus that may be of use to some people - some airlines give you bonus miles if you click through their portal when you purchase.

Southwest is giving you 3 miles for every $1 you spend:
https://rapidrewardsshopping.southwest. ... &gmid=5508

United is giving 2 miles for every $1:
https://shopping.mileageplus.com/me____ ... &gmid=5508

Other airlines may have similar offers. Obviously this isn't life changing value here, but if you're spending the money anyway it's a little extra, especially since I haven't seen any Rakuten/RMN offers for WA lately.

[D@ve D y r 0 f f]

One little bonus that may be of use to some people - some airlines give you bonus miles if you click through their portal when you purchase.

Southwest is giving you 3 miles for every $1 you spend:
https://rapidrewardsshopping.southwest. ... &gmid=5508

United is giving 2 miles for every $1:
https://shopping.mileageplus.com/me____ ... &gmid=5508

Other airlines may have similar offers. Obviously this isn't life changing value here, but if you're spending the money anyway it's a little extra, especially since I haven't seen any Rakuten/RMN offers for WA lately.

Does this require that you use the airline's credit card to complete the purchase, or (if and when I ever get another Amex offer for WA) could I use this portal for its miles and still charge the order to my Amex?

[H.Ma]

One little bonus that may be of use to some people - some airlines give you bonus miles if you click through their portal when you purchase.

Southwest is giving you 3 miles for every $1 you spend:
https://rapidrewardsshopping.southwest. ... &gmid=5508

United is giving 2 miles for every $1:
https://shopping.mileageplus.com/me____ ... &gmid=5508

Other airlines may have similar offers. Obviously this isn't life changing value here, but if you're spending the money anyway it's a little extra, especially since I haven't seen any Rakuten/RMN offers for WA lately.

Does this require that you use the airline's credit card to complete the purchase, or (if and when I ever get another Amex offer for WA) could I use this portal for its miles and still charge the order to my Amex?

No, you do not have to use the airline’s credit card. You can use your Amex or your existing credit cards.

[John L Hall]

Picked up some of the Site Grenache and a few of the Moundsman...

[Rohit B]

Anybody here bite on the Halpin Coombsville?

[JEFFREY R]

Anybody here bite on the Halpin Coombsville?

Curious about this too...it seemed even more hyped-up than usual. I did spring for 6-Coho Merlots though.

[Greg Smith]

In my opinion the best deals on WA right now are the Stone The Crows and Bevan Ontogeny with the 15% off coupon (or 21% if you still have that). Two top-notch wines.

[MatthewT]

I used 21% off for 4 each of:

Stay at Home
Halpin
Moundsman

Thanks for all reviews. Friend has had Halpin and says very good. Damn it, forgot about the Southwest link

[YLee]

Wineaccess canceling order?

Wineaccess cancelled my order all of a sudden. Now I couldn't login to my account. Anyone have this issue?

Did you do anything against their TOS?

[Eric White]

I finally decided to use my 21% discount along with the Amex $20 kicker and SouthWest 3 points to the dollar to pick up some 2018 Stay Home (Neal), and 2018 The Ringer (Bryant). If the Stay Home really is Neal (and it sounds like it), I am certain I'll be a fan - been a huge fan of their wines since the 2000 vintage, great age-worthy cabs. I'm just now digging in to my 01's, 02's, and 03's.

[Kevin Patrick]

I finally decided to use my 21% discount along with the Amex $20 kicker and SouthWest 3 points to the dollar to pick up some 2018 Stay Home (Neal), and 2018 The Ringer (Harlan). If the Stay Home really is Neal (and it sounds like it), I am certain I'll be a fan - been a huge fan of their wines since the 2000 vintage, great age-worthy cabs. I'm just now digging in to my 01's, 02's, and 03's.

Stay Home appears to be a winner and if you're getting Neal Family fruit @ $20 per bottle (before discounts) it is certainly a steal.

My personal view on the sources for the Private Label wines is as follows:

Ringer -- Bryant Family
Commission -- Bryant Family but winemaker is Fayard (per release)
Yesterday Oakville -- Bond Matriarch
Yesterday Howell -- Dana Estates, Hershey Vineyard, VASO label but wine made by TRB
Radio Silence -- Harlan Maiden
Moundsman -- Undetermined winery but grapes are Georges III

Enjoying my 2nd experience with Moundsman tonight. Coravin'd one (large) glass with medium rare filet mignon dinner. Not enough to give a full tasting note but here is what I put together: This very young wine is definitely made for serious steak pairings. Full bodied and only slightly evolving at 75 minutes in the glass the fragrant Napa fruits (rich blackberries and dark cherries) sing along this wonderful steak. At this young age the wine needs at least 2 hours of air to really show its wares but it's one of the best deals in California Cabs at $36 per bottle (unless you use all the discount codes and credits). A perfect steak wine this bottle is sure to be a crowd pleaser if you like big Napa Cabs with your meats.

[Peter C.]

Drinking the Moundsman now, too. Solid wine.

[Eric White]

Ringer -- Bryant Family

Dang it, this is what I meant, thanks for the correction - I'll edit my original comment

[saul_cooperstein]

Looks like Stay Home now sold out (at least for me in Los Angeles)

[Eric White]

Looks like Stay Home now sold out (at least for me in Los Angeles)

on my view too - glad I grabbed some!

[MatthewT]

Looks like Stay Home now sold out (at least for me in Los Angeles)

on my view too - glad I grabbed some!

Crazy that I just randomly pulled trigger today on it.

[Mitch P]

Looks like Stay Home now sold out (at least for me in Los Angeles)

on my view too - glad I grabbed some!

Crazy that I just randomly pulled trigger today on it.
[/quot

Interesting. Looks like it’s still available for me (East coast). Grab 2 of them and 1 Ontogeny earlier today.

[H.Ma]

Has anyone had the 2018 Dayna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District, or any guesses to source? Thank you.

[C. Heinsen]

Does the Amex offer normally renew? The current offer of $30 for $100 in spend is expiring at the end of the month and I am curious if I need to use it now or a new offer usually comes the next month anyways.

Thanks for the help!

[YLee]

Does the Amex offer normally renew? The current offer of $30 for $100 in spend is expiring at the end of the month and I am curious if I need to use it now or a new offer usually comes the next month anyways.

Thanks for the help!

Theres no way to know for sure.

[James D.]

Has anyone had the 2018 Dayna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District, or any guesses to source? Thank you.

As I understand it, this is not an NDA wine but simply a small project by a winemaker that they are trying to clear out. You can see details on their website: https://silenusartisanvintners.com/wine ... sauvignon/

It sounded good to me—described as higher-acidity, more Bourdeaux-like due to the cooler climate of the AVA—and the few reviews of other "Dayna Estate" projects that are out there on CellarTracker are quite positive. At ~$28/btl on cases w/ a 20% coupon I went for it.

[ray ormand]

Dayna, yes, I had it, thought it was good, nothing special. Better on day 2, but would not buy again. For me, not one of the top deals on Wine Access.

[James D.]

Slightly concerned to realize that the 3 reviews of this wine on Vivino appear to be fake. All by people with 2-3 reviews, all of them of this wine or wines from Highlands Winery (also owned by Paul Segas)

https://www.vivino.com/dayna-estate-cab ... /w/8998228

Has anyone had the 2018 Dayna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District, or any guesses to source? Thank you.

As I understand it, this is not an NDA wine but simply a small project by a winemaker that they are trying to clear out. You can see details on their website: https://silenusartisanvintners.com/wine ... sauvignon/

It sounded good to me—described as higher-acidity, more Bourdeaux-like due to the cooler climate of the AVA—and the few reviews of other "Dayna Estate" projects that are out there on CellarTracker are quite positive. At ~$28/btl on cases w/ a 20% coupon I went for it.

[James D.]

Continuing to dig and Paul Segas (Highlands and Dayna owner) seems to like to post glowing reviews of his own wine under his own name, too: https://www.vivino.com/users/paul.segas

Slightly concerned to realize that the 3 reviews of this wine on Vivino appear to be fake. All by people with 2-3 reviews, all of them of this wine or wines from Highlands Winery (also owned by Paul Segas)

https://www.vivino.com/dayna-estate-cab ... /w/8998228

Has anyone had the 2018 Dayna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District, or any guesses to source? Thank you.

As I understand it, this is not an NDA wine but simply a small project by a winemaker that they are trying to clear out. You can see details on their website: https://silenusartisanvintners.com/wine ... sauvignon/

It sounded good to me—described as higher-acidity, more Bourdeaux-like due to the cooler climate of the AVA—and the few reviews of other "Dayna Estate" projects that are out there on CellarTracker are quite positive. At ~$28/btl on cases w/ a 20% coupon I went for it.

[Paul Marshall]

Any idea about The Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon?

[Kevin Patrick]

Any idea about The Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon?

All clues point to Dana Estates which clearly has a relationship with Wine Access

[David Buck]

Any idea about The Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon?

Oh..that is back up I see....Couple new 4.5 vivinos and 91 CT reviews....might bite a few...missed it last time...thx

decided on 3 Phonenix 3 Moundsman...ordered...

[G. Singh]

How does one get the 21% (or 15%) coupons?

[Kevin Patrick]

How does one get the 21% (or 15%) coupons?

Search for Tyler Rico's posts. He's Santa Clause when it comes to Wine Access % off links.

[G. Singh]

How does one get the 21% (or 15%) coupons?

Search for Tyler Rico's posts. He's Santa Clause when it comes to Wine Access % off links.

Thanks. Found it!

[rsmithjr]

I figure I will be 92 when I finish all the wine I have in stock.....

[Tyler F.]

I take a break for a week and completely miss the 2018 Stay Home.