Normally on Friday I post tasting notes on wines that I received and they usually have little to nothing in common, which is why I call them “Random Samples” (there is also a little of a double entendre there for the stat geeks out there).

Today, however, all of the wines come a single producer, Vinoce, a small producer on Mount Veeder in Napa Valley. I do not know much about the brand other than what I was able to glean from Vince’s website, but based on the wines below, they are certainly on the list of “must-visit” the next time I am in Napa Valley.

2022 Vinoce Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, CA: Retail $45(?). Under screw cap. Pale straw to yellow with a green tinge to it in the glass with intense aromas of citrus, white flower, and a touch of celery seed. While the nose is particularly aromatic and enticing, the palate is surprisingly more so. Rich lemon and lime flavors with salty mineral notes, a touch of cashew, and maybe a hint of smoke. Whoa. I have mentioned countless times, I am no fan of Sauvignon Blanc but this is really fantastic. In fact, if more SB were like this? Yeah, I would be at the front of the line, pompoms in hand. Outstanding. 95 Points.

2019 Vinoce Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena, Napa Valley, CA: Retail $60. Heavy bottle (663g; 1lb 7.5oz). Under cork. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark, even inky, staining the glass with every swirl. Dark fruit characterize the nose with plenty of blackberry, black cherry, and cassis at the fore. Spice (cardamom), violet, a mocha note, and a touch of mint also jut forth, rounding out the nose. The palate is fruity, even quite fruity; so much so that it comes off sweet with all that fruit. The mocha and mint also come through just before the finish (which is on the short side). Solid and Excellent. 91 Points.

2021 Vinoce Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley, CA: Retail $125. Heavy Bottle (703g; 1.54lbs). Under 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only 200 cases of this wine were produced and 60% was aged in new French oak. Fairly dark in the glass, in fact it’s pretty close to inky with dark fruit a go-go on the nose: blackberry, plum, and cassis along with a touch of anise, considerable earth, and fagrant violets. The palate is fantastically harmonious with fruit upfront followed by by a zesty tartness and it finishes with some silky but significant tannins. A wonderful wine now, but should improve for at least 5-10 years. Outstanding. 94 Points.

2021 Vinoce Zinfandel The Grappler, Napa Valley: Retail $48. Reasonable Bottle (577g; 1lb 4.3oz). 85% Zinfandel, 10% Syrah, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Grenache. A lot to get to here. Tim Nuss, proprietor at Vinoce Vineyards, along with his father and brother, was a wrestler at some point (hence “grappler”). I am pretty certain that he was not a professional wrestler, but I digress. This is a second label for Vinoce and I believe they source the fruit for this Zin. As for the wine? There are not a ton of ~$50 Zins out there but the ones that are are pretty darned tasty. I would venture that this one falls right in with them. Big, a bit dark, quite fruity, big, brambly, and, of course, big. But what would you expect from a wine called “the Grappler”? Did I forget to mention that it is big? Excellent. 90 Points.

2022 Piccola Noce White, Sonoma County: Retail $45. Responsible bottle. 50% Roussanne, 26% Grenache Blanc, 24% Marsanne. This is my first foray into Piccola Noce but not my first taste of white Rhône blends and this is a fantastic iteration. Pale straw in the glass with ripe peach, pear, and even a touch of guava. The palate is fruity, even really fruity. In fact, it is so fruity, it comes off a bit sweet. But it works due to the rather intense acidity, subtle minerality, and lengthy finish. Excellent. 91 Points.

2021 Piccola Noce Red, Napa Valley, CA: Retail $60. Very Heavy Bottle (879g; 1lb 15oz). 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Piccola Noce or “little nut” is the second wine of Vinoce Vineyards, a small producer on Mount Veeder since the late 1990s. As far as I could gather, this wine is made with purchased fruit from a grower in the St. Helena appellation. Fairly dark in both color and aromas with black raspberry, plum, and even some cassis on the nose. The palate is pretty spectacular, albeit in a more subdued, measured fashion. Clearly driven to produce a balanced wine, the ample fruit is equalled by a zingy tartness and slightly elevated by silky tannins. Drinking wonderfully now, might improve in the short-term (3-5 years). Outstanding. 93 Points.