Jul
6
2020
Preface Prorprietary Red from Skipstone is made by ace-winemaker Philippe Melka. The grapes are sourced from hillside vineyards on the Mayacamas range located in the southeast portion of the Alexander Valley. Farmed sustainably and certified organic, grapes were all hand farmed and hand-harvested at night to preserve freshness and integrity of the grapes.
Skipstone Preface 2017 Proprietary Red, Alexander Valley
GGWC 69.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6 or more
Use code Preface during checkout
Preface is a new Skipstone wine made by Philippe Melka. The grapes are sourced from hillside vineyards on the Mayacamas range, located in the southeast portion of the Alexander Valley. Farmed sustainably and certified organic, grapes were all handfarmed, hand-harvested at night to preserve freshness and integrity of the grapes.
Tasting Notes: The 2017 Preface Proprietary Red blend offers up a gorgeous scents of preserves, blueberries with hints of cloves, star anise, and roses. The bright palate is lush and full-bodied, rich and captivating with an appealing structure of well balanced fruit culminating with silky grained tannins and pleasing flavors that finish very long and pleasantly. Preface is a Merlot-dominated Bordeaux Blend made by Philippe Melka, rounded with the addition of both Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) for structure and aromatic expression. Only 175 cases were produced.
Winery Notes: The warm 2017 vintage overall produced wines that are expressive and aromatic on the nose, with enjoyable freshness, lower alcohol, beautifully structured and layered on the palate. Our unwavering commitment to only bottling the very best from our estate means that every single drop of wine in a bottle of Skipstone is not only from grapes harvested prior to the fires that burned across Napa and Sonoma, and thus, free from any potential smoke-taint concerns. This 2017 Preface Proprietary Red exudes the character of the vintage immediately upon opening, revealing a burst of bright red fruit, framed by savory aromas and flavors.
Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for priority allocation.
Tags: 2017, Alexander Valley, Philippe Melka, Preface, Proprietary Red, Skipstone | 
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Comments Off on Melka does not “skip” a beat
Jul
4
2020
Happy Independence Day to all of you and your family! We hope that you have a wonderful holiday!
Don’t forget to share the love and spread the joy on this independence day.
On a more important note – Thank you to everyone that has fought for the
United States of America, and for those that still do so today.
Having Golden Gate Wine Cellars here is a privilege that I hope is never lost.
In honor of the 4th of July, share a bottle of your favorite American Wine with friends.
I am humbled and lucky to be able to share our favorite wines with all of you.
Happy 4th of July to you all!
|
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Comments Off on Happy Fourth of July!
Jul
3
2020
Winemakers John Kongsgaard and Christopher Vandendriesche did it again! Only a few hundred cases of the stunning, very Burgundian-like Hudson Chardonnay were produced! If this vineyard would be in Burgundy, it would have the Premier-Cru designation! Lee Hudson is probably one of the best winegrowers in the valley. Many great wineries (Kongsgaard, Kistler, etc.) have been sourcing from this vineyard for decades!
Hudson 2018 Chardonnay “Estate” Carneros 96+ Points
Regular $69.99 NOW $64.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code HUDSON During checkout
96+ Points Robert Parker: “Produced from the “Shot Wente” heritage selection clone and all naturally fermented in French oak, 85% new, where it was aged for 12 months, the Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard reveals intense grapefruit, pineapple and honeysuckle notes with hints of brioche, ginger and shaved almonds. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is bursting with spicy, tropical fruit flavors, framed by plenty of freshness and a satiny texture, finishing with great length and depth…This famous vineyard in Carneros was first started by the Hudson family in 1981. These are some of the strongest wines I have yet tasted from them, thanks to winemaker Christopher Vandendriessche and Ace consultant John Kongsgaard.”
Winemaker Notes: “We experienced ideal growing conditions for our Chardonnay block. Cool summer temperatures extended the growing season culminating in exceptional phenolic ripeness. A total of 5 blocks were independently harvested from late August into early September. Upon arriving at the winery, the lots are individually whole clusters pressed and barreled down for fermentation. Our standard Chardonnay protocol employs a slow primary fermentation process that uses only native yeasts and lasts 12 to 14 months. This extended fermentation process produces cerebral Chardonnay that stands up to our naturally concentrated shot-Wente selections. The barrels are topped and stirred once a week during élevage and racked for the first time after 16 months.”
Also check out:
HUDSON 2017 PHOENIX BORDEAUX BLEND, ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
REGULAR $69.99 NOW $64.99 (assorts for FREE SHIPPING)
Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for priority allocation.
Tags: 2018, Carneros, Chardonnay, Christopher Vandendriesche, Estate, Hudson, John Kongsgaard |
Comments Off on LAST CALL – 96 Point “White Burgundy” from the Napa Valley
Comments Off on LAST CALL – 96 Point “White Burgundy” from the Napa Valley
Jul
2
2020
The farmer works to produce the best crop possible, knowing once it leaves their hands, they no longer have control. The winemaker, regardless of skill and ability, can only work with what comes through the winery doors.
Matt Hardin, a 6th generation Napa resident and farmer, is a partner in Barbour Vineyards, one of the most renowned vineyard management companies in Northern California.
Thomas Rivers Brown, winemaker for some of Napa and Sonoma’s most iconic labels (Schrader Cellars, Outpost and his own Rivers-Marie), has more than 20+ 100-point wines on his resume.
Working together for many years on many different projects, a friendship was developed. Out of that friendship the idea of working together to make a wine, utilizing the strengths of the other, Caterwaul was born.
Caterwaul 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Retail 54.99
FREE SHIPPING ON 12 or more
Use code CATERWAUL during checkout
This Cabernet was sourced from one of the most historic and pedigreed sites in Stags Leap. An alluring wine that is dense, plush and beautifully layered in the glass. Bright aromatics play off the super-ripe, racy fruit in a wine that conveys the essence of the vintage and this site to great effect. Hints of pomegranate and white flowers add a decidedly exotic touch to the explosive finish.
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points: “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon should be snatched up by savvy readers. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, violets, and tobacco, it’s a step up over the 2017 and has sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a terrific sense of opulence as well as freshness.”
Winemaker Notes: “With the majority of grapes hailing from St. Helena, the 2018 Caterwaul Napa Valley is very expressive upon first pour. A tantalizing perfume of fresh blackberry and dark cherry jump from the glass with notes of cedar and burnt tobacco rounding out the nose. On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied with creme de cassis and dark berry tones giving way to velvety tannins that lead into a bright and refreshing finish. This Vintage of the Napa Valley bottling is an excellent showcase of the optimal 2018 growing season and will be difficult to cellar as it is drinking so well right now.”
Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for priority allocation.
Jul
1
2020
Screenplay writer turned Vineyard and Winery owner Robert Kamen has done it again. His ace winemaker Mark Herold has been making consistent 95+ Point rated wine from their Sonoma property. For 15 straight vintages the wine has received 93-99 Points, this is the most solid A rating ever.
Talking about “A” ratings, check out Robert’s movie portfolio: Taps, The Karate Kid (1,2 & 3), The Punisher, Lethal Weapon 3, A Walk in the Clouds , The Fifth Element , Kiss of the Dragon, The Transporter (1,2 & 3), Bandidos, Taken (1 & 2) and many others. Robert Kamen purchased his 280 acre property in 1980 with the proceeds of his first screenplay, and the rest is history. The certified biodynamic vineyards were planted by another vineyard entrepreneur, Phillip Coturri. Mark Herold (Merus, Kobalt, Herold etc.) has been his winemaker since 2001.
Robert Kamen and I go back to the very first vintage (1999), so I am proud to be a part of this great run (19 vintages!!)
KAMEN 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON ESTATE, SONOMA – 96 POINTS
GGWC 99.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6 or more!
Use code KAMEN during checkout
Vinous 96 Points: “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. Rich, inky and spectacularly ripe, the 2017 is loaded with the character that makes this Moon Mountain property so special. A whole range of red and purplish fruit, spice, lavender, mint and licorice builds as this sumptuous, exotically beautiful Cabernet shows off its alluring personality. What I find most remarkable about the 2017 is how it is so full-bodied and explosive, yet not overly heavy. The 2017 is one of the best vintages – maybe the best – I have ever tasted here. It is a stunning wine. Wow.”
Winemaker Notes: “Phenomenal concentration! A core of ripe black-raspberries, wild blackberries, black currants and freshly picked cherries anchor the aromatic profile. Bright notes of freshly picked wildflowers followed by hints of sunbaked rocks after the rain, marzipan, Oolong tea, black cardamom and milk chocolate add tremendous depth and complexity. The flavors follow suit and are richly layered, exquisitely balanced and refined. This deliciously seamless wine offers ripe, mouthwatering tannins and a lengthy finish. Enjoy now and over its decades-long evolution.”
Also check out:
KAMEN 2018 SAUVIGNON BLANC ESTATE, MOON MOUNTAIN SONOMA
Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation!
Jun
30
2020
This is the very first White Blend for Y. Rousseau. After making and tasting Colombard and Chardonnay for more than 10 years, Yannick came up with this unique and delicious Blend. Colombard is a variety originally from the South-West of France where it has been grown for two hundreds years. Yannick made his first Colombard in 1996 in the heart of Gascony. It was once the most widely planted white grape in Northern California, not the case today…
Y. Rousseau White Blend 2017 (Chardonnay / Colombard)
Retail 35.00 – GGWC 29.99
FREE GROUND SHIPPING on 12
Use code ROUSSWHITE during checkout
Tasting notes: Crisp, bright, inviting, the 2017 White Blend is boasting a bouquet of pear, golden apple pie, white stone fruits, pineapple and subtle hazelnut. The entry is energetic and generous, exhibiting flavors or lemon curd, lychee and quince. While this is a fresh, juicy, mouth-watering white wine, it has an incredible midpalate weight and texture with zesty acidity and minerality carrying the flavors through to the lengthy finish.
Food recommendations for this versatile White Blend are:
Fresh crab, lemon/rosemary roasted chicken, seafood pasta or risotto
Click here or on the links above to order!
Jun
29
2020
It is my Birthday today! As a THANK YOU to everyone who supported me during these tough times, I want to offer you 10% OFF our entire inventory.
Use code FRANK10 during checkout for your 10% discount!
Feel free to call or email me your orders as well.
415-337-4083
frank@goldengatewinecellars.com
Jun
27
2020
For 3 generations the Holtermann Family has been one of the premier importers of wines, varying from hard-to-find, leading wineries to very large producers from all over the world. Their longtime relationships with growers, enolgists, winemakers and vineyard managers provided them with a unique perspective of the wine industry. So the next step was panting their own vineyards, which they did in the remote ridge tops of Annapolis on the Sonoma Coast. Add winemaker Carroll Kemp to the mix and you’ll wind up with great quality estate-grown wines at a great price point!
Alma Fria 2018 “Plural” Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
GGWC44.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6 or more
Use code ALMAFRIA during checkout
The 2018 Alma Fria “Plural” Pinot Noir is a blend of the best barrels from three amazing West Sonoma Coast vineyards – Holtermann, Dona Margarita and Zephyr Farms. The wine offers up gorgeous black raspberry and wild plum flavors, combined with highlights of Gravenstein apple peel, clay, and a hint of spice to form a medium-bodied wine with refreshing acidity and smooth texture. Aged in 10% new French oak. 13.4% alcohol. Only 195 cases were produced.
Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@GoldenGateWineCellars.com for priority allocation
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@GoldenGateWineCellars.com for priority allocation
Tags: 2018, alma fria, Pinot Noir, Plural, Sonoma Coast |
Comments Off on A GORGEOUS WINE AT A GORGEOUS PRICE
Comments Off on A GORGEOUS WINE AT A GORGEOUS PRICE
Jun
26
2020
I tasted these out of the barrels last spring and was happily surprised. I tasted them again once bottled a few weeks ago, and I was stunned. 2018 is a gorgeous vintage! Andy Smith knows how to convert every drop of juice that goes in a bottle like a 5000 piece puzzle – every piece has its place. After 20 years Andy has this down to exact science. I fondly recall my first meeting with him while Paul Hobbs was making the first couple vintage (still at the Laird Custom crush facility). A lot has happened since, and it is all good! The 2018 vintage will go in the books as one of the best ever for DuMOL. I am excited to offer good quantities and even some DISCOUNTS for you as well!
DuMol 2018 Chardonnay “Wester Reach” Russian River Valley
Retail 64.99 – NOW 59.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more
Use code DUMOL18 during checkout
(OK to MIX & MATCH with other DuMOL)
The Chardonnay Wester Reach comes from various great vineyards in the Russian River Valley, it has terrific notes of citrus and Meyer lemon, and hints of tart pineapple as well a medium-bodied, fresh, focused, incredibly pretty style on the palate. With bright acidity and plenty of vibrancy, it’s slightly more forward and fruit-driven compared to some of the other releases here. It’s a great introduction into the wines of this terrific estate.
Winemaker Notes: “Our 2018 Wester Reach Chardonnay comprises three of the most celebrated old- vine Chardonnay vineyards in California with our high-density estate vineyard at its core. A classic DuMOL coastal Russian River wine, it maintains an impeccable balance between fruit-filled Californian style and a vibrant, focused European approach—an interplay of richness and freshness, texture and acidity.
From the lowest-yielding vintage in twenty years, the wine possesses inherent concentration, depth and definition—focused, driven, mineral-laden and pithy with a level of cool-climate fruit intensity and presence that is very rare. Such a distinctive character is typically achieved only in small-lot single-vineyard wines. The quality of this blend is a testament to our pedigreed vineyards, precise farming, twenty years’ experience and patient, sensitive craftsmanship.
The nose brims with expansive aromas of white lily, apricot, stone fruits and lemon zest underscored by elements of flint, oyster shell and spearmint. The palate delivers a long, subtle arc of flavor and great viscosity. It is initially taut and vibrant with lime juice, lemongrass and citrus oil before opening to richer, deeper fruits, fig and peach, and layers of texture. The finish washes long with bright, clean acidity and a linger of ginger, honey and spice.”
DuMol 2018 Pinot Noir “Wester Reach” Russian River Valley
Retail 74.99 – NOW 69.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more
Use code DUMOL18 during checkout
(OK to MIX & MATCH with other DuMOL)
Incredibly aromatic and complex, the 2018 Pinot Noir Wester Reach offers loads of spiced red fruits, incense, wood smoke, and forest floor notes as well as a medium-bodied, fresh, focused, yet still pleasure bent style. It’s a classic DuMol Pinot Noir to drink over the coming 5-7 years. This cuvée comes all from the Russian River Valley, from multiple clones, and spent a year in 40% new French oak.
Winemaker Notes: “Our 2018 Wester Reach Pinot Noir is a pure, highly detailed cool-climate Russian River Pinot from the greatest vintage of the last two decades. The vineyards comprising this blend are core sites of classic pedigree that we have either planted or farmed for over twenty years. There’s lovely equilibrium to this wine, four distinct vineyards coming together seamlessly.
Beautiful soaring aromas of blood orange and pomegranate darken to classic black cherry and raspberry. The deep entry expands along strong lines with good drive and detail to its red and black fruit flavors. Dark fruits and cherry compote lead the palate—great depth of flavor but always fresh and precise. Savory elements steer the wine toward complexity that will continue to build with age.
As the wine opens in the glass, natural Russian River textures and volume takes hold—broad, supple and layered—bolstered by youthful acidity. The silky finish lingers long with vibrance and clarity. The wine is layered, textured and deep with pinpoint finesse and as vivid an expression of both region and vintage as one could imagine.”
36% DuMOL Estate, 24% Upp Road, 22% Widdoes & 18% Occidental Road”
DuMol 2018 Wild Mountainside Syrah
Retail 64.99 – NOW 59.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more
Use code DUMOL18 during checkout
(OK to MIX & MATCH with other DuMOL)
Winemaker Notes: “The wine was grown in our three classic steep hillside vineyards, each one offering something unique to the blend. Timbervine (41%) is complex, gamey and wildly aromatic; Greywacke (37%) brims with pure cassis fruit and broad texture; and our GVR Estate (21%) is blue-fruited, supple and bright. The combination is greater than the sum of its parts, the essence of blending. There’s a seamlessness, a togetherness to the wine that is very hard to achieve. Aromatic fireworks—blackberry jam, black pepper, pine needle, tapenade and briar patch—are deep, inky and intense. The wine is immediately fruit-forward on the palate with obvious concentration, richness and voluptuous texture. Cassis and boysenberry fruits precede game and rosemary tones. Great breadth across the palate is weighty and layered, while chewy cocoa powder tannins bring balance and focus. There is no wrong time to drink this wine, though it will age beautifully for 15 years. 41% Timbervine, 37% Greywacke, 2
1% DuMOL Estate.”
Dumol 2018 Wild Mountainside Viognier
Retail 64.99 – NOW 59.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more
Use code DUMOL18 during checkout
(OK to MIX & MATCH with other DuMOL)
Winemaker Notes: “Concentration, intensity, power, delicacy and length like this can only be achieved with mature vines planted in poor mountainside soils and cropped to extremely low yields. Then, it takes a legendary vintage to bring everything together. The magnificent Timbervine and Hoppe-Kelly vineyards are perfect partners. We harvested both on the same day, slowly pressing and co-fermenting the complementary fruit. The blend expresses the viscosity and weight we expect, but also a lingering, saline freshness that typifies the greatest Viogniers.
One senses the wine’s concentration on its aromas alone: fresh apricot, white lily, white peach and tense minerals with an edge of spearmint and white pepper. The powerful entry, tangy and deep, coats the palate with honeyed nectarine and oily lemon zest flavors. The lovely combination of viscosity and lift lingers long through the finish“
Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation!
Tags: 2018, Andy Erickson, Chardonnay, DuMol, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier, Wester Reach, Wild Mountain Side |
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Comments Off on DuMol’s 2018 HOT new releases JUST ARRIVED – AT A DISCOUNT!
Jun
25
2020
“Site” is the venture of Jeremy Weintraub (longtime Seavey winemaker). He sources from the best “Sites” in California. This latest Red Rhone Blend is just a good example. The 2016 Site Red blend is sourced from the Larner Vineyard. The Larner Vineyard would be considered a “Grand Cru” designation if it was located in France.
Site 2016 Proprietary Red Blend “Larner Vineyard” Santa Barbara
RETAIL 54.99 – GGWC 49.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code SITE during checkout
The 2016 Site Red Rhone Blend is composed of Syrah 75%, Grenache 20% and Viognier 5%. The Syrah and Viognier portions were co-fermented and aged for 18 months in small French oak barrels. The Grenache fermented separately and aged for 18 months in puncheon. The wine shows blue and red fruits, as well as spices and lavender. The mouth is delicate and voluptuous, with a long finish. 100 cases produced.
Accolades: “Top Grand Cru Vineyards in California by Wine Spectator ~ Top Five California Vineyards by Wall Street Journal ~ Top 25 Vineyards in the World by Wine & Spirits ~ California’s Best Single Vineyards by Wine Enthusiast ~ Top 5 Vineyards You Can Trust by Pinot Report ~ Ten Best Vineyards by Food & Wine, etc.”
Vinous 94 Points: “The 2016 Red Wine Larner Vineyard is another wine in this range that just dazzles with personality and character. Vibrant inky blue/purplish fruit, grilled herbs, lavender and spice all develop effortlessly. I especially admire the wine’s freshness and energy. The 2016 is a blend of mostly Syrah, with some Grenache and Viognier.”
Parker 94 Points: “Comprised of 75% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 5% Viognier, the 2016 Red Wine Larner Vineyard has an opaque ruby-purple color and scents of eucalyptus, potting soil, red and black currants, bacon fat, blueberry and boysenberry preserves plus fried herbs, roasted lamb and cracked pepper. Full-bodied, dense and intense, it packs in the black and blue fruit preserves with very plush, rounded tannins and good freshness to lift the very long, dense finish.”
Also check out:
SITE 2017 VIOGNIER “LARNER VINEYARD” 94 POINTS
SITE 2016 SYRAH, BIEN NACIDO SANTA BARBARA (3 X 95 POINTS!!)
ALL SITE WINES ASSORT FOR FREE SHIPPING!!
Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for priority allocation.
Tags: 2016, Larner Vineyard, Proprietary Red, Santa Barbara, Site |
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Comments Off on 10% OFF FRENCH LAUNDRY’S FAVORITE