“Stock up.” says Decanter.

We did it, dear Ops. A FULL DAY dedicated to one of our favorite producers - Medlock Ames! The Store here is packed with FIVE killer-diller wines from this much-loved producer.

Maybe it was the 12+ features we put out over the past few years. Or the straight up charm and devastating good looks. Probably the former, to be honest.

Either way, we just landed a gang of great offers from Medlock Ames.

But we’re featuring this front and center - their flagship 95 pointer!

“The Flag” as it’s called is serious stuff. Did we mention the 95 points? And the TRIPLE 94s?

What about the price? At $200 from the winery, it stands up there with some serious competition. At our sub-$100 price? The competition withers away…

The bottle alone hints at what’s to come - weighing in at around 5 lbs, it’s the thickest glass we’ve seen. With enough wax to melt into a candle enclosing it, and a beautiful silkscreen label…

A sexy package might entice us, but what’s inside is all that matters. AND OH BABY!

Before we completely gush about this, let’s rewind. First, we learned that the name actually goes back to co-founder Ames Morison’s great-great-grandfather, who was behind the local “Russian River Flag” newspaper back in the 1800s. Such legacy. Such pride. Such pedigree. With not one, not two, or three, but FOUR 94-95-point assertions by the press!

Of course, like all the ME gems, it’s overseen by consultant extraordinaire Jean Hoefliger, whose magic is so in demand that he comes with his own (tech sheet!) worth a read if you want to see just how prolific his span of work is.

And it’s only the 2nd vintage of The Flag, 2019 being the inaugural release of this, which will only be made in vintages that warrant one. Per Medlock Ames’ brilliant day-to-day winemaker Abby Watt, The Flag is “a rich, tannic, and bold statement of Bell Mountain Vineyard” and we could only get our hands on a few cases, so you’d be wise to jump on it.

If you don’t remember the story of the winery, Chris Medlock James and Ames Morison are college best friends who left the hustle of Manhattan for the rolling hills of Sonoma. They knew what they wanted from the very beginning. Driving around Chalk Hill, their vision was realized at Bell Mountain Ranch, that charming spot where Russian River Valley meets Alexander Valley. Ames is the winemaking force here, reaching for hillside Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties that exude power without excess. To that end, they have taken organic viticulture and sustainability to a whole new level.

The press came soon after their launch when Food & Wine declared Nirvana in Sonoma! announcing that “up on Bell Mountain, Medlock Ames winery produces amazing wines in a utopian setting.”

The property is an obvious oasis, and this specific wine is crafted to show the elegance of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the subtlety of tannins that come from this special place. It’s ultra-smooth and focused around dark cherry, cassis, cedar, and tobacco. Very complex and layered, finishing with extraordinary flavors ranging from the fruity to the earthy, and that impeccable balance we all know too well from all flagship blue chip Cabernets, be it from Napa or Alexander or whatever valley out there.

It’s not a wildly extracted fruit bomb bruiser but rather an insanely complex future classic. Think Vérité La Joie, from a vineyard that’s practically next door - but the going rate for one of those is in the $500s. ’Nuff said.

Get it in your locker quickly… only 10 barrels made!

95 Points – James Suckling “Perfumed in aroma and super polished in texture, this seductive wine marries ample oak and spices with deep and broad black fruit. It relaxes in abundant but gentle tannins for a velvety texture, leading to a lingering finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”

94+ Points – The Wine Independent “The single-varietal 2020 The Flag Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. A little closed to start off, it needs patient swirling to bring out notes of blackcurrant preserves, baked plums, and fruitcake followed by nuances of potpourri, fallen leaves, and tilled soil. The full-bodied palate is taut with expressive black fruits and earthy nuances, supported by ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and minerally. Drink 2023-2040.”

94 Points – Decanter “In 2020, this flagship wine of the Medlock Ames lacked any other Bordeaux varieties, as is more typical of the blend and was instead 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was entirely barrel fermented. Red and black fruit tones, cedarwood, tobacco, and earth meet a medium to full-bodied, juicy red with upfront acidity, burly, pixelated tannins, and a stand-out red in a challenging vintage. Stock up. Called ‘The Flag’ about Ames’ great-great-grandfather, John Gilson Howell, who wrote for the Russian River Flag newspaper in the 1860s and 1870s. Drink 2023-2033.”

94 Points – International Wine Review “The 2020 Medlock Ames ‘The Flag’ opens to inviting aromas of dark cherries and currants woven together with dried herbs, dried sage, florals and hints of licorice nuances all developing in the glass. This possesses a full body that is layered with flavors of dark and red fruits and wild herbs that persist through the finish. This is showing enough appeal to approach now, however should continue develop nicely over the course of the next decade.”