Mar
28
2020
Halter Ranch is a small, family-owned winery located in the heart of Paso Robles’ Westside Adelaida District. The “pulse’ of Rhone Varietals in California. All the wines produced by this small winery are 100% Estate-grown. Aside from growing various “Rhone” varietals, they also have “Bordeaux” varietals on their estate. The “Ancestor” is named for the oldest oak tree currently in the world.
Halter Ranch 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon “Ancestor” Paso Robles
GGWC 59.99
FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more bottles
Use code ANCESTOR during checkout
Winery Notes: “Our flagship wine, Ancestor, is our Bordeaux-style reserve blend, and a homage to the Ancestor Tree, the largest Coast Live Oak on record. Carefully selected barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot were blended for this Cuvée which offers aromas of berry compote and baking spices. Rich and powerful on the palate, 2016 Ancestor, displays flavors of boysenberry, cassis, and graphite with a long, silky mouthfeel that leads to a well-structured finish. Ancestor pairs well with beef, lamb, and game. Enjoy now, or set aside for a special occasion, as this wine will develop beautifully for years to come”
Click here or on the links above to order!
Mar
27
2020
The “Tether” wine is a new Anna Monticelli & Kimberly Jones project. This is real value in a bottle. They make stunning a stunning Cabernet & Chardonnay that over-delivers for the pricetags!
Tether 2017 Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley
GGWC 37.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more
Use code TETHER at checkout
Mix & match OK with TETHER CABERNET
The 2017 Tether Napa Valley Chardonnay possesses seductive aromas of jasmine, crushed limestone rock, quince, white peaches, tropical fruit, and toasted coconut. This full-bodied Chardonnay is remarkably finessed and polished. There is balanced acidity on the palate and tremendous depth and length on the finish.
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points: “A new wine for this label, the 2017 Tether Chardonnay is a big, rich, barrel-fermented Chardonnay from vines next to Carneros. It has rocking notes of stone fruits, honeyed citrus, white flowers, and classy oak. Brilliantly done, medium to full-bodied, and just a screaming deal, drink it over the coming 2-4 years.”
Robert Parker 93 Points: “The 2017 Chardonnay comes from a vineyard in south Napa, adjoining the Carneros AVA. It sashays out of the glass with powerfully fragrant guava, honeydew melon and apricot tart notes with touches of beeswax, marzipan and candied ginger. Medium to full-bodied, the creamy-textured palate is packed with bold, tropical flavors with plenty of freshness and lovely savory sparks on the long finish.”
Also check out: TETHER 2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY
Click on the links above or CALL me at 415-337-4083 to order!
Mar
26
2020
B Kosuge 2018 Gamay, Carneros Napa Valley
GGWC 25.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code GAMAY during checkout
The Kosuge Gamay is bright, fresh and more svelte than its older sibling. Maybe a bit more true to the essence of the Gamay grape, though who am I to say? I am loving how fresh and lively the Gamay is already. Although young, it already invites the next sip. Or gulp. It’s more on the red fruit end of the spectrum than the previous vintage and sleek on the palate. It will complement all manner of holiday fare, and having just polished off a bottle myself I can say that it is pretty darn tasty on its own!
Winery Notes: “With all the wines I make, I am part traditionalist and part tinkerer. With this wine, I hope to capture the things that I love about Cru Beaujolais without slavishly imitating it. I’ve been aging it mostly in a concrete egg, with a few neutral barrels. I find that I generally prefer the wine when it’s aged in concrete, at least so far, but whether that is truly traditional in Beaujolais I don’t know and to some extent don’t care. It works with the fruit I have, and that is good enough for me. My Gamay always has a very low pH for red wine. While you can’t necessarily taste pH, it does allow me to use very low levels of sulfur (SO2 is more effective at low pH). It isn’t “natural wine” but it has very little added to it: no yeast, no bacteria, no acid, no sugar, no new oak. The flavors are fresh and lively and are all derived from the grape, nothing else. Pretty primal stuff, just the way I like it. 120 cases produced.“
Also, check out these other great B. Kosuge wines:
B KOSUGE 2016 PINOT NOIR THE SHOP, CARNEROS
B. KOSUGE 2016 CHARDONNAY SONOMA COAST
Mix & match OK for FREE SHIPPING
Click here or on the links above to order!
Mar
25
2020
Get a free half-case of wine!
Here’s a little secret that up until now only a select few knew about, but now we are opening it up to everyone… The Golden Gate Wine Cellars’ Wine Club!
With all of the incredible wines coming out of California these days, it is almost impossible to know which ones you are really going to enjoy. It is even more difficult to discover the new hidden gems and small production wineries, some of which are only available through mailing lists and pre-allocations.
Here’s where the Golden Gate Wine Cellars’ Wine Club comes in to the picture. Wine expert Frank Melis will hand select a set of six wines from some of the best craft and boutique wineries out there and ship them right to your door. No worry for you about which wines to choose, no searching through the internet to see if a bottle you are looking at has good reviews or ratings, no fuss!
The Golden Gate Wine Cellars’ Wine Club is available in both single-shipment and annual memberships and at varying price levels. Our annual plans come with six shipments spread over the course of the year and gives you an additional savings of up to $200 off of the single-shipment purchase price. Each shipment comes with extra features such as elaborate wine and food pairing notes as well.
To make things even better, for a limited time only, when you sign up for an Annual Wine Club Membership we’ll throw in an extra shipment for free! That’s SEVEN half-case shipments instead of the usual six, plus the added savings of the annual membership!
This deal won’t last and is not advertised on our website, so sign up now before you miss your chance to get a free half-case of incredible wine!
Mar
24
2020
When I first got into the wine industry a few decades ago, rosé was anything but cool. White Zinfandel from California made the public think that all rosé was sweet, and unfortunately, imports such as Royal Lancers from Portugal and wines such as Sutter Home White Zin confirmed this notion.
Today, however, rosé is the second fastest growing segment of the wine market – the United States is the second largest rosé consuming country in the world, following France of course! It accounts for nearly 10% of all wine made worldwide. You’ll find rosé at high-end restaurants and stores like mine! On that note, since Paul Lato makes some Syrah and Pinot Noir for me every year, I asked him a few years ago to start making some Rose of Pinot Noir for me, and looking at the response from my clients… a no brainer. So I am very excited to introduce our NEW Melis Family 2019 Rosé from the Santa Rita Hills to you.
I would not be able to bring this Rosé to the market without the help of my winemaker and good friend Paul Lato! Paul helps me source the fruit and the Melis Family helps with the actual blend!
Melis Family 2019 Rose of Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills
GGWC 31.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more
Use code MELISROSE during checkout
This wine is not an afterthought, but a serious contender. The 2019 Melis Family Rose of Pinot Noir (blend of 2 great Santa Rita Hills vineyards) offers up ample and layered fruit on both nose and palate. On the nose you’ll encounter crushed flowers, cranberry and bright red cherry notes which continue on the pleasant palate laced with a touch of bright acidity. The wine is nicely polished (Paul Lato would not have it any other way) finishing gorgeously. A crowd-pleasing rose!
Also check out this other great Melis Family wine:
MELIS FAMILY 2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, BECKSTOFFER G3 VINEYARD NAPA VALLEY
Click here or on the links above to order!
Mar
19
2020
Curbside Pickup!
Dear Friends of Golden Gate Wine Cellars,
We would like to update you as to the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. All of us here at GOLDEN GATE WINE CELLARS want you to know that the health and safety of our employees and customers have always been our highest priority. We are now offering curbside pickup for our customers. As you know you are allowed to go shopping for food (and I guess wine is part of that too…)
TO ARRANGE CURBSIDE PICKUP:
1) Place your online order, you can also call or email us. We will process the transaction and let you know when your order is ready for pick up. You can also have us ship it directly to your house if you would prefer!
2) Call us (415)337-4083 when you are outside. Please let us know the make, model and color of your vehicle. We will come to your car and put it in the trunk for you. You can tip us later…. LOL! 😊
Thank you for your continued support, it is very much appreciated
A Humbled
Patron Saint of Tannins
St. Frank
Remember… It’s not hoarding if it’s wine!
Mar
17
2020
LAST CHANCE, WINE SALE EXTENDED!
Today is the LAST day of the 13% OFF SALE, but not the last day of Golden Gate Wine Cellars!
We are all hunkering down, limiting our movement, and staying healthy. I sincerely hope that you and yours are too! But I have several lonely cases of wine that are in need of someone to keep them company during the coming weeks.
So please take advantage of our sale – ALL wines are 13% OFF – adopt a case of your favorites or try something new, but don’t miss out on selecting some great wines at one of our biggest DISCOUNTS ever!!
Go to my site and use code FRIDAY13 during checkout,
all me at 415.337.4083 or email frank@ggwc.com with your order.
all me at 415.337.4083 or email frank@ggwc.com with your order.
We offer nationwide shipping (*where allowed by law) so we can get your wine right to your door. Or if you are nearby we offer free curbside pickup at 2337 Ocean Avenue in San Francisco. Just call ahead so we know you are coming.
Using the FRIDAY13 code will give you 13% OFF ALL of our wines
EXTENDED THROUGH WEDNESDAY!
EXTENDED THROUGH WEDNESDAY!
Mar
16
2020
Great NEWS, the AMAZING 2018 wines from my friend and winemaker Paul Lato are on their way! The 2018 vintage is probably one of the best, if not “THE” best ever! Astonishing quality, but as always very small quantities. I am very excited about the ADDITIONS of some new Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs to Paul’s ever-expanding portfolio!
As always, Paul’s wines are first-come, first served.
A little bit about the winemaker:
Paul Lato was born in Poland. He worked as a certified Sommelier in one of Toronto’s most exclusive restaurants and visited California for the first time in the early 1990s. Jim Clendenen (owner of ABC winery & Clendenen wines) told Paul to just pack up and move here, and he would show him the ropes – a decade later he did make the move and took a job at Bien Nacido vineyards for just $10.00 per hour, he did get free “lodging” at the bunkhouse in the vineyard. The Bien Nacido owner pushed Paul to make his own wine. With some tutoring (he observed the best in the business for some years, asked a lot of questions and experimented a lot) he made his first wines and by chance met Robert Parker. Parker asked him if “he” was the Polish Sommelier that makes wine and said that he wanted to taste it. Parker told him that he would tell him immediately if the wine was the real McCoy or …. (slang for excrement) Parker was blown away and gave Paul Lato a rave review. From then on, Paul’s new career was born.
I met Paul in 2002 and have been a big fan since day one, and could say that we have become good friends along the way. Paul is also the winemaker for my Melis Family wines.
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PLEASE CALL/EMAIL ME DIRECTLY WITH YOUR ORDER REQUESTS!
THE WINES ARE IN LIMITED SUPPLY! AS YOU KNOW PAUL LATO WINES SELL OUT FAST~ FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! ~ Place your order by calling 415-337-4083 |
1) Paul Lato 2018 Chardonnay “It’s All Good” Talley – Oliver’s Vineyard ~~ GGWC 72.99
The “It’s All Good” is the second release from a special block on the Talley vineyard. Growing in sandy clay loam in the Edna Valley, these 28-year-old vines produce Chardonnay of great balance and complexity. Opening with youthful aromas of white peach, river rock, and almond flowers on the nose. Its lively, caressing palate is a seamless balance of crisp Fuji apple and salted caramel. With its smooth and refreshing finish, this Chardonnay will charm you into saying, “It’s all good…”
I’d say that the 2018 is a mere image of the 2017!
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “Coming from the cooler Edna Valley just south of San Luis Obispo, the 2017 Chardonnay It’s All Good Talley Oliver’s Vineyard was whole cluster pressed into the barrel and spent 15 months in 70% new French oak. It has a wonderfully pure, classy bouquet of sautéed orchard fruits, white peach, white flowers, spice box, and honeysuckle. With a layered, medium to full-bodied texture, subtle oak, integrated acidity, and flawless balance, it’s a thrilling California Chardonnay from an incredible winemaker. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.”
2) Paul Lato 2018 Chardonnay “Done & Done” Talley – Rincon Vineyard ~~ 72.99
The “Done & Done” is another Premier Release for Paul Lato from a unique corner of the Rincon Vineyard from Brian Talley. The inaugural vintage of this vineyard is a classic California Chardonnay. It offers intriguing aromas of honeysuckle, apricot, and river rock. It will seductively draw you in with flavors of bright peach, honey, pear, and creamy marshmallow. This medium-bodied wine is balanced with good acidity—making it lovely on its own or perfect with food. The rich and delicious finish provides the perfect end to this delightful wine.
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ Points: “The 2017 Chardonnay Done & Done Talley Rincon Vineyard is slightly more masculine and chiseled, showing more caramelized stone fruits, crushed citrus, honeyed toast, and subtle minerality. It too has subtle background oak, a layered, medium to full-bodied, vibrant texture, and a great finish. It’s going to keep for upwards of a decade.”
3) Paul Lato 2018 Chardonnay “Souvenir” Sierra Madre Vineyard ~~ GGWC 79.99
Paul Lato Notes: ”This wine possesses a powerful and exuberant nose of brioche and lemon zest, with nuances of vanilla and spice. It is dry, yet plenty rich in its taste, with medium-plus body, voluptuous and round texture, and nuances of minerals. The seamless integration of new French oak provides plenty of structure, and leads into a gracefully dry finish, inviting you to take another sip. It will drink wonderfully on its own with a great conversation or while reading your favorite novel. One of our favorite dishes to pair is a creamy Lobster risotto in light saffron spice.”
This wine is probably any bit as good, if not better compared to the 2017 vintage!
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “From a site in the Santa Maria Valley and aged 15 months in 60% new French oak, the Lato Chardonnay Le Souvenir Sierra Madre Vineyard from Lato offers a vivid gold color as well as a rocking bouquet of lemon curd, crushed rocks, white currants, spice box, and white flowers. Rich, powerful, and layered, yet also vibrant and racy, with beautiful purity and precision on the palate, it’s one of the most seamless, flawlessly balanced wines in the lineup. It’s brilliant today yet should evolve effortlessly.”
4) Paul Lato 2018 Chardonnay “Belle de Jour” Duravita Vineyard ~~ GGWC 79.99
This bottling has created a real following. I would be hard-pressed, but I can tell you that this one is every bit as good as his previous Belle de Jour bottlings, maybe a touch more focused and more elegant! A real “skilled” winemaker gem! Due to the success with the previous vintages, I have a lot of demand for this bottling and it will be sold out well before it arrives at my store!
Paul Lato Notes: “Very sleek and elegant chardonnay from the Biodynamic Duvarita vineyard, it is a classic example of the intriguing depth and complexity Biodynamic wines exhibit. It is intensely aromatic, with acacia flowers and sea breeze-like mineral notes on the nose. Medium-bodied, long in the mouth, clean, and very well balanced on the palate, finishing with the contrasting flavors of lemon zest and butterscotch. It is lively enough to be an aperitif; however, it will greatly complement seafood like shrimp, scallop, or pair well with traditional French cuisine.”
Robert Parker 96 Points: “This is the second vintage of this wine for Paul Lato, made using biodynamically farmed grapes and aged for 15 months in 55% new French oak. Youthfully coiled, the 2017 Chardonnay Belle de Jour Duvarita Vineyard features oodles of latent layers on the nose: warm pie spice, baked quince, Golden Delicious apples, Meyer lemon peel, dried hay, dusty earth, crushed stone and mushroom with warm white peach, jasmine and spring honey nuances. Medium to full-bodied with that signature Lato texture, it has intense flavor layers swelling in the mouth, with juicy acidity and a very long, layered, lively finish. Give this more time in the bottle if you can keep your paws off.”
5) Paul Lato 2018 Chardonnay “East of Eden” Pisoni Vineyard ~~ GGWC 84.99
This is the Eight release of the “East of Eden” Chardonnay from the famed Pisoni Vineyard. Only a few barrels were produced, and I was lucky to get a few cases from Paul as they were all earmarked for his mailing list and for restaurants like French Laundry, Per Se, Gary Danko, etc. This is probably the best rendition of a 1er Cru Montrachet produced in California. As you are aware of Paul’s meticulous wine-making skills and strategy, nothing escapes this guru of precision!
I’d say that this wine is very similar to the great 2017 vintage, which received 98 Points!
Paul Lato Notes: “Powerful yet controlled nose, with aromas of flint, lily, and Crème Brulee, California meets Burgundy. The body is long and powerful with marine-influenced salinity and a fresh boisterous finish. This wine has a larger-than-life personality, much like the man growing the grapes, Gary Pisoni. This wine will pair well with lighter dishes of seafood or chicken, but also has the potential to complement a steak.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “Always one of my favorites in the lineup, the brilliant Chardonnay East Of Eden Pisoni Vineyard comes from a Grand Cru site on the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands and was barrel fermented and aged 15 months in 60% new French oak. It reveals a medium gold color as well as a liquid rock-like minerality in its crushed citrus, lemon curd, toasted spice, and grilled bread aromas and flavors. Deep, rich, concentrated, medium to full-bodied, and just sensationally textured, it’s another magical wine from Paul Lato.”
6) Paul Lato 2018 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay, Napa ~~ 84.99
You are probably saying, what Paul Lato in Napa…. Yes, Larry Hyde has been a big fan of Paul Lato and vice versa. So it was only a matter of time until Paul would source from this California Premier Cru vineyard.
Tasting Notes: The 2018 vintage is probably one for the history books!. The wine is very refined and expressive, with ripe citrus aromas, and a deep core of rich pear and honeydew melon flavors that bring fantastic complexity. The finish is filled with a touch of butter, a hint of toasted hazelnut and refreshing acidity.
7) Paul Lato 2018 Pinot Noir “Seabiscuit” ~~ GGWC 84.99
This latest Zotovich “Seabiscuit” bottling is by far Paul’s best effort to date! I would say that it will rival his 97 Point rated 2016 & 17 versions! As it is the case with all of Paul’s wines, I get limited amounts of this great gems, so I can only remind you how great and limited they are!
Paul Lato Notes: “Located toward the center of Highway 246 on a gentle, even slope with northern exposure, Zotovich Vineyard has proven capable of making extraordinary wine with great aromatics and fine structure. Dark pleasant red, with rose, bing cherry, raspberry cake, and a hint of wood aromatics. It is mid-bodied, zesty and smooth on the texture with a bit of spice on the finish. The tannins are gentle but persistent and will allow this wine to age gracefully with time and will be ready to drink within a couple of years.”
This wine is very much a big brother to the great 2016 & 2017 vintages!
Jeb Dunnuck – 97 Points: “From a site in the northern part of the Sta. Rita Hills, the Paul Lato Pinot Noir Seabiscuit Zotovich Vineyard (60% new French oak) reveals a medium ruby/translucent color as well as a classic bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, forest floor, white flowers, and spice. It picks up a lovely floral quality with time in the glass and is seamless, silky, and perfectly balanced on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins. I almost always find the Zotovich to be one of the most compelling wines in the lineup from Lato and this one is no exception. It’s as classic and balanced as it gets. Give bottles 2-3 years in the cellar and it’s going to evolve for 10-15 years.”
8) Paul Lato 2018 Pinot Noir “Suerte” Solomon Hills ~~ GGWC 86.99
Paul is not slowing down one bit, and this workhorse “Suerte” will amaze many Pinot lovers alike! It shows gorgeously young, and will even improve a lot more in the years to come! Only a few barrels produced! This 2018 is any bit as good as the 96+ point rated 2014,15,16 & 17 vintages!
Paul Lato Notes: “Solomon Hills is the most westerly vineyard in the appellation, making it the coolest due to its proximity to the ocean. Suerte is a favorite of some of my most loyal supporters, including Thomas Keller and Wolfgang Puck. Dark color with a shiny hue. Pronounced brooding nose with darker fruit nuances of blueberry pie and cherry with a hint of clove and light smoke. On the body, the wine is well defined possessing zesty flavors with balanced structure and bright acidity. While the tannins are quite firm on the finish, the wine delivers plenty of pleasure and intensity. Classic Santa Maria Pinot at its best. Decant one-half an hour prior to service.”
Robert Parker 96+ Points: “The Solomon Hills vineyard is the most westerly—and thus the coolest—vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley AVA. Vines are 17 years old, planted in ocean floor sandy loam, and the wine was aged for 17 months in 65% new French oak. Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the Paul Lato Pinot Noir Solomon Hills Vineyard Suerte features pure aromas of redcurrant, red licorice, shaved nutmeg and warm cinnamon on the nose with spiced cranberry sauce, black cherry, rose petal, pink peppercorn and autumn leaves. The medium-bodied palate is silky with layer after layer of spice, earth, and fruit, wonderfully pixelated, grainy tannins and seamless acidity, finishing very long and very spicy. Paul Lato says, “If Santa Maria were Musigny, this would be Bonnes Mares.”
Only 240 cases produced.
9) Paul Lato 2018 Pinot Noir “Lancelot” Pisoni Vineyard ~~ GGWC 99.99
The “flagship” wine of Paul’s Portfolio! I don’t need to tell you that the Pisoni vineyard is often compared to the best (1er Cru) vineyards in Burgundy and Paul puts a real Burgundian twist on this source! This wine equals the best of the previous Lancelot bottlings and could even surpass it!
Paul Lato Notes: “This is another special vintage from Pisoni Vineyard. Vibrant and deep, dark cherry color. Booming aromatics out of the glass, with blueberry pie-like notes. Power and grace in the mouth with plenty of fruit, oak, and vanilla nuances that blend seamlessly. Touch of spice and abundance of minerality. Long finish, very impressive now and full of aging potential and evolution in the bottle. Our Grand Cru from Santa Lucia Highlands.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “From a site located in the southern part of the Santa Lucia Highlands consisting of broken granite soils, the Paul Lato Pinot Noir Lancelot Pisoni Vineyard was all destemmed and spent 15 months in 70% new French oak. Ripe raspberries, strawberries, rose petals, sappy herbs, and crushed rock-like minerality all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium to full body, bright, integrated acidity, building tannins, and a great, great finish. Despite seeming to be the most seamless and elegant texturally.”
10) Paul Lato 2018 Pinot Noir “C’est La Vie” Drumm Canyon ~~ GGWC 84.99
This might be the very best C’est La Vie bottling to date! This rendition from the Drumm Canyon Vineyard “C’est La Vie” will make you (happily) dream of a 1er Cru Pommard at a much lower price point! This latest release is Paul’s best effort to date and I have only 5 cases of this wine to offer!
Paul Lato Notes: “Our parcel at Drum Canyon Vineyard is on a severely steep hillside graced with beautiful southern exposure. Attractive, dark red. Boysenberry and cassis notes. Full of energy, wired with fine tannin and a long spicy finish. Made from two Burgundy suitcase clones, and would easily fit as a ringer wine in a Burgundy tasting. Decant one hour prior to service.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “Another Sta. Rita Hills release, the Pinot Noir C’est la vie Drum Canyon Vineyard (15 months in 50% new French oak) is more spice-driven and pretty, with an incredibly balanced, layered, seamless style. Notes of ripe strawberries, raspberries, white flowers, vanilla cream, spice, and hints of forest floor all give way to a gorgeously elegant, ethereal effort that has ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It’s great today and will be great in 7-8 years as well.”
Robert Parker – 97 Points: “The Drum Canyon comes from 14-year-old vines planted in sandy loam, with the wine aged for 15 months in 60% new French oak. Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir C’est la Vie Drum Canyon has a youthfully coiled nose slowly unfurling to fresh sage, rose petal, lilac, orange peel, autumn leaves, dust, perfumed earth and black tea leaves with a core of raspberry preserves, black cherries and berries, blueberries and charcuterie hints—this is so perfumed! It’s medium-bodied with slowly blossoming fruit, earth, and spice flavor layers, with firm but elegant, wonderfully pixelated tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and packed full of perfume and spice. Wow! So elegant. So refined. 150 cases were made.”
11) Paul Lato 2018 Pinot Noir “Atticus” John Sebastiano Vyd, Santa Barbara — GGWC 84.99
This might be one of Paul’s best interpretations of this great vineyard. Intensely aromatic, lush fruit, medium to full in body, but extremely well-balanced. Bright red stone fruit on the mid-palate with a hint of spice leading into a long silky finish.
Paul Lato Notes: “John Sebastiano is my most eastern vineyard in the appellation with stunning south-facing hillside topography. Combined with its relatively windy locale, this vineyard produces wines of high concentration. This wine has pronounced notes of raspberry and tart blueberry. It has a smooth texture, fine structure, and a zesty long finish with a hint of spice. It needs three years in the bottle but will last 12+ years. Atticus has been an international favorite from its very first vintage.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ Points: “From a site on the eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, the Atticus John Sebastiano Vineyard spent 15 months in 75% new French oak. Its vibrant ruby color is followed by notes of blackberries, raspberries, smoked earth, ground herbs and hints of minerality. It’s one of the larger framed, riper wines from Paul, yet in this vintage, it stays beautifully focused, tight and pure. It has the balance and texture to shine today, but it will be better with a year or two of bottle age.”
12) Paul Lato 2018 Pinot Noir “Duende” Gold Coast ~~ GGWC 84.99
This is Burgundy made in California! The Gold Coast Vineyard is 30 years old and is own-rooted (no rootstock)! Intensely perfumed aromatics jump out of the glass. Medium to full in body, this wine offers gobs of red stone fruit, a touch of underbrush and spice in its medium to full-bodied shell. The wine lingers for a long time into a gorgeous, lengthy finish.
Paul Lato Notes: “This may very well by my finest vintage of Duende to date. Delicate, medium red color and fantastic perfume. Stewed strawberry and raspberry notes with very pleasant red fruit nuances from the 30-year-old vines at Gold Coast Vineyard. It has a silky texture on the tongue from the intermingling of the fruit with the finest new French oak – refreshing acidity and light tannins on the finish. Duende is a perennial favorite of many of my longest customers.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the Paul Lato Pinot Noir Duende Gold Coast Vineyard comes from a site in the Santa Maria Valley and spent 15 months in 50% new French oak. Black cherry and raspberry fruits as well as lovely notes of underbrush, forest floor, white flowers, and hints of vanilla all emerge from this elegant, multidimensional Pinot Noir that has awesome purity and length.
13) Paul Lato 2018 Pinot Noir “Prospect” Sierra Madre ~~ GGWC 89.99
The 2018 Paul Lato Pinot Noir “The Prospect” is polished and sensual from the very first taste. Plump and juicy, but also light on its feet, it has a level of finesse and subtlety that is quite rare in this vintage. Bright, saline notes infuse the tightly wound finish.
Paul Lato Notes: “We source the best of the best grapes from the Sierra Madre vineyard, the prime property in the middle of the valley; Sierra Madre and Pisoni are the only two vineyards that I make both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Medium-dark color, pretty and translucent with a nose of fresh strawberry and bing cherry. It has a well-defined mineral structure and finishes zesty and delicious.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: Brought up in 50% new French oak as well, the Pinot Noir The Prospect Sierra Madre Vineyard offers more underbrush and stem/earthy notes. It has rocking purity of fruit on the palate, a silky texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a clean, crisp finish. This Burgundian beauty just glides across the palate and is another brilliant wine from Lato. Give bottles a year or two.”
14) Paul Lato 2018 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard, Napa Valley ~~ 94.99
You are probably saying, what Paul Lato in Napa…. Yes, Larry Hyde has been a big fan of Paul Lato and vice versa. So it was only a matter of time until Paul would source from this California Premier Cru vineyard. This is its Inaugural release!
Tasting Notes: This stunning Paul Lato Hyde Vineyard offers up a basket full of aromas that jump out of the glass. The wine is loaded with tons of dark red fruit, spices, a hint of mixed herbs, and licorice. This bold, lush youngster is loaded with class and pedigree and tons of generous fruit that is balanced with the right touch acidity. The lush flavors of this remarkable wine lead smoothly into a textured, silky finish.
Quantities are extremely limited!
CALL 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation!
Mar
15
2020
On the Semantics of Minerality
By Dwight Furrow
If you have been wondering about the state of research into minerality in wine, Alex Maltman in Decanter has you covered. He summarizes all the latest theories about minerality and supporting scientific evidence for them and ends up concluding—well, we still don’t know what it is or where it comes from
But as I read through the article it became clear to me that one reason the science is inconclusive is because there is no agreement on what we mean by “minerality” and the disagreement seems to largely stem from cultural differences.
Another illustration of the communication problem is the different word associations reported by research groups at Lincoln University in New Zealand and at California’s UC Davis. While both teams noted positive correlations between minerality and words like citrus, fresh, zingy, flinty, and smoky, the Lincoln researchers differed from those at Davis in finding no correspondence with acidity or reductive notes.
One study showed that minerality represented different things to Swiss and French wine consumers, and that the Swiss group used a markedly broader vocabulary.
When Professor Maltman turns to the question of where minerality comes from, it seems the science is hampered by that lack of agreement on what the term “minerality” refers to:
A later investigation, from UC Davis, reported that professional tasters found minerality in wines with greater malic and tartaric acidity and, to a lesser extent, free and total sulphur dioxide. However, a New Zealand study, while supporting a role for sulphur dioxide, found no correlation between acidity and perceived minerality, nor with reductive notes.
Here is what stood out to me. The New Zealand study found no correlation between acidity or reductive notes as the cause of minerality. But notice in the first quote, the New Zealand team found no correlation between minerality and word associations indicating acidity and reductive notes. In other words, for New Zealanders, high acid or sulfur compounds were not viewed as the cause of minerality because they don’t refer to high acid or sulfurous wines as “minerally”.
The basic problem is that there are cultural differences in the words used to describe wines. Thus, cross-cultural analyses of causal connections between compounds in the wine and our perceptions will be influenced by how we talk about those perceptions.
This is not unusual. Obviously in our language use we are deeply influenced by the people we interact with and there are often significant cultural differences between language groups even if they nominally speak the same language. There is little reason to think New Zealanders and Americans or the French and the Swiss would share all linguistic references despite the overlap in their official languages.
People have different names for things. That doesn’t necessarily mean we disagree about the underlying non-linguistic phenomenon.
What there does seem to be agreement on is that “minerality” doesn’t come directly from soil or rocks. Despite the tendency to talk as if there are such connections the science seems conclusive.
Mar
14
2020
Rosemary Cakebread is among the seasoned winemakers who have been instrumental in bringing Napa Valley Cabernet to prominence. After earning a degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis in 1979, she was introduced to Cabernet Sauvignon at the historic Inglenook Winery, where she took her first winery job right after college. She has enjoyed varied experiences during her many years of experience in the production of wines, which include harvests in Bordeaux and with some Champagne producers. A love for Cabernet Sauvignon was nurtured as winemaker for Spottswoode from 1997 through the 2005 vintage, where she divided her time between winemaking and overseeing the organically farmed estate vineyard. Rosemary celebrated her thirtieth vintage in 2009, which coincided with the bottling of her first release under her own label: the 2007 Gallica Cabernet Sauvignon. The latest release, her 10th of Gallica might be here best offer yet to date. STUNNING I’d say! Especially when the Three Big Critics give it the same 96 Point Rating!!
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96+ Points Robert Parker: “Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is blended of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Cabernet Franc. It sings of blackcurrant cordial, blueberry pie and warm plums with touches of licorice, violets, cigar box and allspice. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with energetic fruit plus a firm, velvety frame and oodles of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note.”
96 Points Anthony Galloni: “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch Vineyard is dense, powerful and voluptuous in the glass. Even with all of its abundant richness, the 2016 is rather shy at this stage, perhaps because of its relatively recent bottling. Inky blue and purplish berry fruit, licorice, menthol, plum and lavender open up nicely over time, as the 2016 starts to show some of its more gracious, understated style. There is so much to admire in the 2016, but it will be a few years before all of the elements are fully melded together. The 2016 is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Cabernet Franc.”
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (there’s 17% Cabernet Franc in the blend) was brought up in 42% new French oak. It offers a sensational bouquet of blackberries, black raspberries, cassis, graphite, and toasted spice, with some savory tobacco and herbal notes with time in the glass. It’s deep, full-bodied and layered, with sweet yet present tannins. Drink this concentrated, sexy Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon any time over the coming 15-20 years.”
Winemaker Notes: “Gallica is located on our family property in St. Helena. The deep and low fertility Cortina soils are renowned for exceptional quality red wines. Planted in 1990, these fully mature Cabernet Sauvignon vines produce wines which are elegant and harken back to the structure of Napa Valley red wines notable decades ago. The 2016 vintage is not to be missed . The entry is long and graceful nuanced by rose petal, cardamom , dried mandarin peel, the tannins are silky and inviting. Cabernet from this site is always energetic and mouthwatering.”
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