I want to thank everyone for a great 2010, and look forward to an even better 2011! It was a humble experience getting through these first five years as my "own boss" and I owe all of you a big Thank You! I look forward to working with you for many years to come. As we are entering the final stretch of the holiday season, let me know if we can assist you with any wine gifts for family, friends, clients or colleagues.
Sincerely,
Frank
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Karen Culler has crafted yet again two amazing wines from this stunning estate. I taste a good 2000 wines each year, and both of these ended up on my Top ten list for 2010! The production of both these puppies is very limited, so I highly recommend that you jump on this offer now.
Wolf 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Retail 80.00 – GGWC 74.99 (six or more 72.50)
Black cherries and coffee aromas followed by forward black fruits and cassis framed by balanced yet powerful tannins and a full mid-palate. Richly extracted and with a long lush finish this is a classic Wolf Family Cabernet Sauvignon reflecting its Western St. Helena terroir. Balanced and well integrated the 2007 has great potential for aging. The cornerstone of Wolf Family Vineyards, this wine is always 100% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. 275 cases produced.
Wolf 2009 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Tres Hermanos
Retail 35.00- GGWC 29.99 (six or more 27.99)
From the narrow sloping vineyard that spans the property, the Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of Musque Clone and Sauvignon Blanc Clone 1. Fermented in small stainless steel barrels and a single new barrel, the wine is aged on the lees to encourage a hint of creamy texture to balance the fresh, crisp flavors. A unique warm climate Sauvignon Blanc with its pear, herbal, mineral and citrus aromas, Picked early to encourage the natural acidity, along with the lower alcohol, livens the fresh palate. 112 cases produced.
*FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $500 or when you purchase a full case!
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Tags: 2007, 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon, Karen Culler, Musque, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Spotlights, St. Helena, Tasting, Top Wines, Tres Hermanos, Wolf Estate, Wolf Family Vineyards
Spotlights, Tasting Notes | Frank November 23, 2010 | 
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Every year around this time since 1988, Wine Spectator releases it’s list of the top 100 wines of the year. The list just hit the bookstands and includes some incredible selections from around the world. Tasting each of the 13,000 plus wines they chose from would have me under the table in no time at all. So for the Golden Gate Wine Cellars Best Wines of 2010 list, we will keep it a little simpler and present you with my top 10 wines of 2010.
This year showed an amazing diversity and some very notable new faces in the wine world. Choosing only ten of the truly great wines I have encountered this year to make this list was quite a task. However, after much deliberation, here is the result:
Golden Gate Wine Cellars 2010 Top 10 wines
1. Coho 2007 Merlot “Michael Black” – GGWC 97 Points
2. Clark Claudon 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon – GGWC 96 Points
3. Inherit the Sheep 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon – GGWC 96 Points
4. DuMol 2008 Chardonnay “Chloe” – GGWC 95 Points
5. Coho 2008 Headwaters Cabernet Blend – GGWC 95 Points
6. Wolf Family 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon – GGWC 95 Points
7. Bella 2008 Zinfandel “Lily Hill Reserve” – GGWC 94 Points
8. Revana 2007 Cabernet (97 Points – Wine Spectator # 4 wine of the year) – GGWC 94 Pt.
9. Wolf Family 2009 Sauvignon Blanc – GGWC 94 Points
10. Stephane Coquillette Champagne NV Brut – GGWC 94 Points
Honorable mentions:
11. Coho 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon – GGWC 94 Points
12. Sans Liege 2008 GSM “The Offering” – GGWC 94 Points
13. Wrath 2007 Pinot Noir – GGWC 93 Points
14. Walter Hansel 2008 Chardonnay “Cahill Lane” – GGWC 93 Points
15. Malk 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon – GGWC 93 Points
Wine Specatator Top 100:
1. Saxum 2007 James Berry 98 Points – Sold out
2. Two Hands 2008 Shiraz Bella’s Garden 94 Points – sold out
3. Peter Michael 2008 Chardonnay 98 Points – Ma Belle Fille – sold out
4. Revana 2007 Cabernet – 97 Points (still in stock, at press time)
5. Altamura 2007 Cabernet – 96 Points (still in stock, at press time)
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Tags: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, Altamura, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Champagne, Chardonnay, Clark-Claudon, Coho, DuMol, Inherit the Sheep, Malk, Merlot, Peter Michael, Pinot Noir, Proprietary Blend, Proprietary Red, Revana, Sans Liege, Saxum, Shiraz, Stephane Coquillette, Top Wines, Two Hands, Walter Hansel, Wine Spectator, Wolf Estate, Wrath
Other | Frank November 17, 2010 |
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Paul Hobbs has turned this little winery into a real gem. This release was sourced from three top Napa Valley vineyards (45% Stagecoach, 29% Beckstoffer IV and 26% State Lane).
This wine is firm, dense and powerful, yet very elegant! The wines aromas jump out of the glass for this well-textured Cabernet! The nose opens to blackberry, black cherry and subtle vanilla aromas from very high quality French oak barrels. In the mouth the wine starts fat, fleshy and dense with French oak well integrated into the ripe grapiness. Flavors of blackberries, chocolate, coffee and hints of dark caramel are layered until the end of the long finish. The black fruit and barrel spice are balanced with proper hints of varietal sauvignon herbs. Tannins are very fine, firm but not gripping, enveloped in the fat, dense mouthfeel and only needing time to soften.
Stewart 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – Retail $62.00 – GGWC $49.99
For a limited time and while supplies last, purchase a full case and pay only $47.50 per bottle, plus you receive FREE SHIPPING!!!
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The Alondra winemakers (both of whom are sommeliers at San Francisco’s Boulevard restaurant) crafted an amazing, well-priced wine from this stunning vineyard source! This is a very secretive wine! I am not allowed to tell you where the fruit comes from, but I can tell you that it has to do with a successful career in the NFL! I can also tell you that the source is an amazing 10 acre site in the Yountville district of the Napa Valley.
On the nose, one is greeted with gobs of black currant, cassis and cocoa powder aromas. On the palate this lush, densely concentrated wine reveals classic Napa Valley black stone fruit with a touch of chocolate and a touch of spice. The palate is expressive and flavorful, with the rich fruit profile beautifully balanced by gravelly earth and refined, but silky tannins. With a production of 200 cases, I can tell you that this one will not last long!
Alondra 2007 Cabernet, Yountville Napa Valley – Retail 44.00 – GGWC 37.50
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Each with a long and notable history in the world of fine wines, the husband and wife team of Spencer Graham and Elizabeth Pressler formed Elizabeth Spencer Wines in 1998 with the goal of creating wines of intensity without excess weight, in a model of purity, persistence and length. Together with winemaker Matthew Rorick, they “…make wines to drink — inviting wines that we and our friends (and by extension, our customers) truly enjoy”
This latest release offers us an amazing wine at an amazing price. Deep magenta in color. The nose explodes with aromas of cassis, cracked pepper and a touch of spice. A wine of great structure and grip with remarkable palate presence and focused flavors of black plum cobbler and Bing cherry. Balanced natural acidity lends a youthful brightness and indicates that the wine will age gracefully.
Elizabeth Spencer 2007 Cabernet , Napa Valley – Retail 40.00 – GGWC 34.99
Full case orders receive FREE SHIPPING! (Call to get this deal 415-337-4083)
Also, be sure to mark December 4th 2010 on your calendar for our
Holiday Wine Tasting event. We have many exceptional wineries lined up to present their latest offerings and as usual, the Lakeside Cafe will be providing trays of sumptuous Hors d’ouevres.
More details and information is available at GoldenGateWineCellars.com, by calling us at 415-337-4083, or by clicking the link below. RSVP before November 20, 2010 and you will receive a FREE GIFT at the door.
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Tags: 2007, Cabernet Sauvignon, Elizabeth Pressler, Elizabeth Spencer, Matthew Rorick, Spencer Graham, Spotlights, Spotlights, Tasting Notes
Spotlights, Tasting Notes | Frank November 9, 2010 |
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Image from Wine Spectator 2010
Coho Headwaters $41.99
Revana Cabernet $129.99 (Sorry sold out)
Maybach Cabernet $209.99 (Sorry sold out)
Wine Spectator magazine says: “Coho Headwaters Cabernet is the #1 “Top Value” among Napa Cabernets!” As you can see from the magazine photo, they showcase this wine with some amazing cult wines (Revana is made by Heidi Barrett!).
Coho Headwaters has received three 95 Point ratings and has been the top rated Cabernet wine under $50.00 in Wine Spectator for two years straight! I hear rumblings and rumors that Coho will be ranked near the top in the upcoming Top 100 wines! If you have not ordered your wine, do it now while I still have some!
Small amounts of the current releases 2007 Coho Cabernet “SummitVine Ranch” and 2007 Coho Merlot “Michael Black” are still available!
Also, the Bella 2008 Zinfandel “Lily Hill Reserve”, Alondra 2007 Cabernet, and Elizabeth Spencer 2007 Cabernet are selling briskly and will be sold out shortly.
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