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Country: | United States |
Regions: | California California (Sonoma County) |
Winery: | Gamba |
Grape Type: | Zinfandel |
Vintage: | 2015 |
Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
Sourced from several sites in the heart of the Russian River Valley, the grapes are vinified in our traditional style; with an extended soaking period. The vineyard lots were fermented on the natural indigenous yeasts, each lot fermented separately to highlight the distinctive characteristics and unique distinct flavor profiles of this world famous growing region. Dark ruby-garnet in color, this classic Russian River Zinfandel shows aromas of boysenberry, raspberry, brown spices, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the Family Ranches Zinfandel is balanced with excellent acidity: a powerful, rich and concentrated wine, with flavors of nectarine, cherry and raspberry that build through the lingering finish. This lovely wine can be enjoyed now, and will continue to develop with bottle age over the next several years.
The Estate
Gamba Vineyards and Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery in Sonoma County, California. The winery was founded in 1999, by Agostino and Paulette Gamba, the realization of a life-long dream. The estate vineyards have been in the Gamba family for over 50 years, although the vineyard itself is over 100 years old.
The Vineyard
The vineyard has been organically dry farmed since its original planting in 1900, and produces a very limited yield of highly concentrated fruit.
Gamba Zinfandel Family Ranches is made from 100 percent Zinfandel.
Sourced from several sites in the heart of the Russian River Valley, the grapes are vinified in our traditional style; with an extended soaking period. The vineyard lots were fermented on the natural indigenous yeasts, each lot fermented separately to highlight the distinctive characteristics and unique distinct flavor profiles of this world famous growing region. Dark ruby-garnet in color, this classic Russian River Zinfandel shows aromas of boysenberry, raspberry, brown spices, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the Family Ranches Zinfandel is balanced with excellent acidity: a powerful, rich and concentrated wine, with flavors of nectarine, cherry and raspberry that build through the lingering finish. This lovely wine can be enjoyed now, and will continue to develop with bottle age over the next several years.
Gamba Zinfandel Family Ranches is made from 100 percent Zinfandel.
Sourced from several sites in the heart of the Russian River Valley, the grapes are vinified in our traditional style; with an extended soaking period. The vineyard lots were fermented on the natural indigenous yeasts, each lot fermented separately to highlight the distinctive characteristics and unique distinct flavor profiles of this world famous growing region. Dark ruby-garnet in color, this classic Russian River Zinfandel shows aromas of boysenberry, raspberry, brown spices, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the Family Ranches Zinfandel is balanced with excellent acidity: a powerful, rich and concentrated wine, with flavors of nectarine, cherry and raspberry that build through the lingering finish. This lovely wine can be enjoyed now, and will continue to develop with bottle age over the next several years.
Sourced from several sites in the heart of the Russian River Valley, the grapes are vinified in our traditional style; with an extended soaking period. The vineyard lots were fermented on the natural indigenous yeasts, each lot fermented separately to highlight the distinctive characteristics and unique distinct flavor profiles of this world famous growing region. Dark ruby-garnet in color, this classic Russian River Zinfandel shows aromas of boysenberry, raspberry, brown spices, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the Family Ranches Zinfandel is balanced with excellent acidity: a powerful, rich and concentrated wine, with flavors of nectarine, cherry and raspberry that build through the lingering finish. This lovely wine can be enjoyed now, and will continue to develop with bottle age over the next several years.
Blending Detail:
Grenache speaks loudly in the Bésoleil with notes of pomegranate, red raspberry, and strawberry leaf. The Counoise and Cinsualt bring bing cherry fruit and blueberry notes to the table, complicated by pepper and garrique. Mourvedre donates a wild meatiness to the blend, and a purple hue. Syrah rounds things out, adding texture, and flesh to the palate.
Review:
The first vintage where they’ve pushed the bottling back to give the cuvee 16-18 months in barrel, the 2015 Besoleil is a dead ringer for a high-quality Chateauneuf du Pape and offers perfumed notes of herbes de Provence, kirsch, licorice and sweet spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, textured and fruit-forward, with a hedonistic yet elegant profile that’s going to evolve gracefully.
Robert Parker 91-93 Points
Betz Family Clos de Betz is 67 % Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot
Review:
The 2015 Clos de Betz is a blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Offering up aromas of blackcurrants, crème de cassis, licorice, incense and rich soil tones, it's full-bodied, layered and velvety, with super concentration and depth, fine-grained structuring tannins and a long, youthfully chewy finish. The structural refinement and detail are indicative of Betz's thoughtful approach to the challenges of the 2015 vintage.
-Wine Advocate 95 Points
Morlet Family Vineyards Mon Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot .
Located on the hillsides of Knights Valley, near Calistoga, this vineyard benefits from its proximity to Mount St. Helena, whose warm and windy climate is ideal for the long ripening of the Bordeaux red varietals. Handcrafted by using classical winemaking techniques, this special wine is dedicated to our son, Paul Morlet.
Dark red with a hue of purple. Intense and complex bouquet of red, black and blue berries intermixed with notes of blueberries, minerals (graphite, wet river rocks) licorice, fresh blond tobacco and a hint of lavender. Full bodied, the palate is reminiscent of the nose, with a richly tannic yet round frame and a great intensity. The hillside tannins and the classical aromatic complexity create a harmonious ensemble, leading to a very long and elegant finish. Built to age for decades, this collectible wine opens up after a few years of cellaring and is particularly representative of this special vineyard from the hillside of Knights Valley. Mon Chevalier features the interaction of the loamy, well drained and rocky volcanic soil, the typical sunny mountain climate and the low-interventionistic Morlet winemaking approach.
Propietary Name Mon Chevalier
Name Meaning My Knight Named after our son, Paul Morlet
Varietal composition 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot
Type of wine Vineyard designated
Appellation Knights Valley
Vineyard singularity Morlet Family Estate Hillside 1100-1200 feet elevation Rhyolitic, loam & volcanic ash
Typical harvest date End of October
Picking Manual, small lugs, refer truck
Sorting Cluster by cluster, berry per berry
Fermentation Through native yeast Tank and Puncheons
Upbringing 16 months French oak from artisan coopers
Bottling Unfiltered
Cellaring time Decades
Serving Room temperature
Decanting recommended
Review:
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier, which includes no Merlot (it’s 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot) is a black fruited, powerful 2015 that just fills the mouth with fruit. Blueberries, plums, violets, chocolate, and savory herb notes all emerge from this full-bodied, big, meaty, licorice-laced effort that, like all of Luc’s wines, stays balanced, graceful and pure. Drink it anytime over the coming 25+ years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
Morlet Family Vineyards Passionement Cabernet Sauvignon is made from
Dark purple. Intense and complex bouquet of red, black and blue berries intermixed with notes of blueberries, Crème de Cassis, plum, cedar and a hint of cedar and cigar box. Full bodied, the palate is reminiscent of the nose, with a creamy texture and a great intensity. The luscious tannins, the intense aromatic complexity and its opulence create a flamboyant yet harmonious ensemble, leading to a very long, complex and smooth finish. This early charming and collectible wine represents the passionate, uncompromised and on-going pursuit of quality.
Review:
Flirting with perfection, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement has a Léoville Las Case-like regalness in its crème de cassis, graphite, camphor, charcoal, and gravelly minerality. Full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, yet pure, structured, and on point, this sensational Cabernet Sauvignon needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will cruise for 2+ decades in cold cellars.
-Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points
Crown Point Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.
The 2016 Crown Point Cabernet Sauvignon is a full, rich, and beautiful wine that beckons both the nose and palate with a sense of textural generosity and aromatic complexity. Blue and black fruits are beautifully woven through its powerful core of minerality, accented by subtle notes of cocoa & toasted spices. This wine possesses an energy and freshness that indicates a long life ahead of it.
Mother Nature graced the estate with a near-perfect growing season in 2016. Conditions in the vineyard were optimal for producing evenly ripe, concentrated fruit, which displayed rich, developed tannins right off of the vine. In keeping with tradition, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from multiple blocks on the estate, from a range of clones that all contribute different expressions of the variety to the wine. Small quantities of the other four noble Bordelaise varieties were added to the final blend for polish and complexity. All of the blocks were harvested & fermented separately, and the individual components were blended after 12 months of élevage in barrel. Total time in 225 liter French oak barrels (70% new) was 26 months.
Review:
Aromas of black currant, toffee, caramel and coffee are wrapped in a lavish violet tone on the nose of this bottling. The tannic profile impresses, being polished yet firm and serious, and the flavors of deep strawberry, caramel, crushed stone and violet satisfy from start to finish. Matt Kettmann
-Wine Enthusiast 97 Points
The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated cuvée is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (92% Cabernet Sauvignon with tiny amounts of the other varieties on the property). It’s cut from the same cloth as the Estate Selection, yet with just a touch more classic Cabernet blue fruits, purity, and precision. Blackcurrants, cassis, crushed violets, graphite, and lead pencil notes all give way to a powerful, concentrated, beautifully pure Cabernet that has ultra-fine tannins, a seamless texture, building tannins, and a great, great finish. It's another magical wine from this team that's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.
-Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points
Hospices de Beaune Beaune Premier Cru Cuvee Brunet is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Tasting
Clear bright red colour. Elegant bouquet followed by ripe fruits in (raspberry) infusing the whole mouth.
Food matching
Mixed salads, sausages, duck breast filets.
History
This historic charity sale commemorates five centuries of generous benefaction, and many members of the Brunet family, dating back to the 1600s (5 of whom were Mayors of Beaune), are in the roll of honour. These vineyards are all Premiers Crus and superbly placed – in Bressandes, Bas des Teurons and Cent-Vignes. 15% of the Cuvée was planted in 1999, all the rest from 1976 back to 1954.
Terroirs
Les Bressandes 0.52 ha.,