Frank Melis' Wine

TANNINS IN WINE COULD HELP TO INHIBIT COVID-19

TANNINS IN WINE COULD HELP TO INHIBIT COVID-19

Research from Taiwan shows that tannins in wine can help fight Covid-19 by effectively inhibiting the activity of two key enzymes within the virus.
 
Mien-Chie Hung, President of China Medical University, Taiwan, led a scientific research on the anti-coronavirus treatment. They discovered that tannins in wine can effectively inhibit the activity of two key enzymes of the virus.

As TVBS reported, Hung said: “The initial plan of the research is to call out natural compounds that may have an effect on SARS, and then use the protease of the new coronavirus to detect them and tannic acid was found in the result. It bears the strongest inhibitory ability.”
Hung explained tannic acid is a water-soluble polyphenol. Polyphenol compounds have antioxidants and free radical scavengers, which have anti-inflammatory effects.

During the SARS pandemic in 2003, relevant studies have proved that the treatment of tannic acid is effective. This time we are facing a new type of coronavirus and the research team has further performed detailed molecular experiments for new discovery.

The principal said that tannins can prevent infection and control the growth of viruses. Tannins are readily found in fruits such as bananas and grapes, as well as wine, tea and vegetables.

He explained tannins could be further developed as a drug for pharmaceutical treatment in the future. He believed that the consumption of adequate food and drinks with tannins is also a way to boost up one’s immunity to the virus.

“Grape and sorghum have relatively high tannin content. In fact, we are doing research in this area. We hope that in near future, we can come up with the decision of whether wine or baijiu is more potent in tannins.”
 

10 Vineyards Behind the World’s Most Famous Wines

10 Vineyards Behind the World’s Most Famous Wines

Hewitson Old Garden vineyard Photo courtesy Dragan Radocaj

It is often said that great wine begins in the vineyard, and with many of the world’s most storied wines, that is unequivocally true. Yes, viticulture can be confounding, but it’s the all-important factor that truly makes great wine. The soils upon which these vines grow matter, as do their elevations, orientation to the sun and various microclimates.

Get to know some of these special vineyards below.
 

Getty

Romanée-Conti

Burgundy lays claim to a large number of the world’s most storied vineyards. Many of these inimitable sites, also known as climats, are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Perhaps the most iconic site is Romanée-Conti, of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) fame.

This vineyard is a monopole, which means it’s a vineyard or appellation owned and controlled by one winery. Its cemetery-like cross stands sentry at the mouth of the vineyard, lending an almost solemn reverence to match its near-mythical status.

Romanée-Conti is also a clos, or walled vineyard. This particular clos only produces around 450 cases of wine per year from a parcel that measures just under five acres. In 2018, a bottle of 1945 DRC sold for $558,000 at a Sotheby’s auction. Other notable older vintages include 1966 and 1978.

The vineyard was planted in the 13th century by monks of the Saint- Vivant abbey. The wines are renowned for their ageability because the grapes are grown on vines that are at least 50 years old, grown in chalky, limestone soils.

Notable Producer (if the opportunity ever presents itself): Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
 

Montrachet 

Another revered climat, or vineyard, in Burgundy is Montrachet, located in the Côte de Beaune, the southern part of the esteemed Côte d’Or. Centered around the town of the same name, the Côte de Beaune is not strictly a white wine region, but the whites are for what the region is known.  

Montrachet is a grand cru vineyard thought to be the greatest place in the world for Chardonnay production. It’s situated between the famed towns of Puligny and Chassagne. The vineyard lies midslope and faces southeast, which protects against the strong, westerly winds. 

Well-draining, calcium-rich soils allow the grapes to stay hydrated, and to thrive.

Like Romanée-Conti, it also covers a small growing area—only 20 acres, or eight hectares—to produce the longest-lived and most expensive white wines in the world. Montrachet is not a monopole, so there are a few owners who make wine from the site.

Notable Producers: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Bouchard Père et Fils, Domaine Leflaive, Joseph Drouhin, Louis Latour
 

Clos Saint–Jacques  

There’s one premier cru vineyard in Burgundy that inspires awe in the way that many grand crus do, and that is Gevrey-Chambertin’s Clos Saint-Jacques.   
Why is Clos Saint-Jacques rated as a premier cru vineyard only? It’s believed that during the establishment of Burgundy’s classification system, some owners refused to pay the higher fee associated with the higher tier of classification. Of course, everything always comes down to money.  In Clos Saint-Jacques, five owner-producers are allowed to use the vineyard name on the bottle: Louis Jadot, perhaps the most affordable of the five producers; Domaine Armand Rousseau; Domaine Sylvie Esmonin; Domaine Fourrier and Domaine Bruno Clair.

Armand Rousseau has the largest holdings at a little over five acres. Its wines are said to be the plushest of the bunch, but all are held in high esteem.  

Notable Producers: Domaine Bruno Clair, Domaine Sylvia Esmonin, Domaine Fourrier, Louis Jadot, Domaine Armand Rousseau
 

Photo courtesy www.mkb.photo

Clos des Goisses  

The name says it all. While clos means walled vineyard, goisses is French for “very steep vineyard,” and this roughly 13.5-acre plot on the north end of the Marne River in Champagne ascends from 30º to 45º. Such a slope requires manual farming (standard in Champagne) or, somewhat anachronistically, horses and plows.   

Planted to both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this premier cru vineyard has grown wine grapes since the 16th century and is currently the warmest site in Champagne. Its south-facing orientation and surrounding wall creates a warmer microclimate than the rest of Champagne. This ensures that the grapes ripen, and its special chalk soil acts as a heat conductor.  

Notable Producer: Philipponnat 
 

Coulée au Serrant  

Planted in the 12th century by Cistercian monks, Coulée au Serrant has been continually harvested each year. As of 2020, the vineyard has seen 890 consecutive vintages.   

Coulée is a monopole and appellation in the Savennières district of the Loire Valley, owned by Nicolas Joly. The vineyard’s 17-plus acres are planted to one of the flagship grapes of the Loire, Chenin Blanc. The south-southeast vineyard is farmed according to biodynamic principles and has vines that average from 35 to 40 years old. They sit on schist, quartz and flint soils, which provide distinctive minerality.   

Notable Producer: Domaine Nicolas Joly  
 

Cannubi  

“It was like touching the stars with my hands,” says Luciano Sandrone, a Piedmont producer, about Italy’s most famous cru. Says Michele Chiarlo, another Barolo producer: “When I was able to buy [acreage in Cannubi] it was a joy, almost like touching heaven with my fingertips.”   

Grapes have been grown in Cannubi since before Barolo was a designation. Owned by 19 producers, its 37 acres have been at the center of contentious property disputes and naming rights over the years, and one time the issue made its way to Italy’s Supreme Court.

It is such a revered name that neighboring vineyards like Cannubi San Lorenzo and Cannubi Muscatel sought to use the “Cannubi” name as a demonstration of their wine’s quality. In 2013, courts decided that the neighboring vineyards could use the name to promote their proximity to the world-famous site.  

Notable Producers: Brezza, Damilano, Michele Chiarlo, Sandrone, Paolo Scavino  
 

To Kalon Vineyard

In Greek, To Kalon means “the beautiful,” and standing at the overlook from Robert Mondavi Winery, it’s easy to understand why. The 1,000-acre parcel in Napa Valley’s Oakville appellation sees acres of vines butted up against a blue, cloudless sky and the lush, green Mayacamas mountains.  

To Kalon is also home to the small yet mighty parcel named I-Block, lauded for having North America’s oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines, now 75 years old. Their thick, gnarled trunks are untrellised and require no irrigation, concentrating their already bright fruit flavor.  

If America had grand cru vineyards, To Kalon would certainly be at the top of the list. As Napa Valley is known for Bordeaux grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, however, it’s more fitting to say that To Kalon is a kind of “first growth” vineyard.

And because To Kalon was part of the partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Bordeaux first growth Château Mouton Rothschild, the analogy is even more apt.   

Like Cannubi, its enviable location and soil diversity has made To Kalon a target, of sorts, with some of the best and most expensive wineries in the Valley vying to produce a To Kalon-labeled wine. The vineyard is currently divided among a few conglomerates. Robert Mondavi-Constellation owns the largest holdings at nearly 450 acres, while grower Andy Beckstoffer has 90 acres and Opus One has 35 acres. The rest are owned by a handful of smaller growers.   

Notable Producers: Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Realm Cellars, Carter, Melis Family
 

Shea Vineyard  

Because of Burgundy’s storied pedigree, Pinot Noir is almost as noble as grapes come. And Pinot Noir in the States is gaining a foothold. Even Burgundian denizens praise Oregon’s Willamette Valley for its great terroir for Pinot production.

The region’s Mecca is often considered to be Shea Vineyard, a 290-acre property in Yamhill County renowned for its sedimentary sandstone soil. Shea dedicates 149 acres to Pinot Noir and six acres to Chardonnay.

Proprietor Dick Shea supplies grand cru-quality grapes to some of the most vaunted and well- known Oregon and California wineries.  

Notable Producers: Hundred Suns, Bergström, Ken Wright Cellars, Shea Wine Cellars, Winderlea
 

SANTA MARIA VALLEY, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA – 2009: The Bien Nacido Vineyard is seen in this 2009 Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, late afternoon landscape photo. Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

Bien Nacido Vineyard  

Located on California’s Central Coast, Bien Nacido dates to 1837. However, it didn’t arrive on many wine lovers’ maps until the Millers, a fifth-generation family of California farmers, purchased it in 1969. 

Their dream was to shepherd a vineyard that rivaled those of the great estates of Europe. Many people believe that dream has been realized.   

Bien Nacido lies in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County. It’s one of the coolest growing sites in the state due to the ocean influence and transverse (east-west orientation) Santa Ynez mountain range. The vineyard is planted to 900 acres of vines and supplies grapes to many high-end wineries in California.  

Notable Producers: Paul Lato, Tyler
 

Photo courtesy Dragan Radocaj

Old Garden Vineyard (Barossa Valley)

Contrary to what one might believe, the world’s oldest-producing vines are not in Europe, but Australia. Planted in 1853, the Old Garden vineyard is now owned by Dean Hewitson, winemaker and proprietor of Hewitson winery in South Australia.

Old Garden has the great honor of never having been affected by phylloxera, the vine root louse that wreaked havoc on many of the world’s vineyards in the 1800s. It is home to the world’s oldest, perpetually-producing Mourvèdre vines in the world. They are currently 168 years old and produce a rich, deeply complex wine.  

Notable Producer: Hewitson 

Scarecrow Winemaker pulls another gem out of her hat , 95+ Points

It was 1993 when Dave Decesaris, gazed into his crystal and spied Freemark Abbey, as Mesopotamian mythology’s controller of karma and time, he saw an opportunity and slyly orchestrated a chance meeting of Kathleen. Over a tasting of fine wine. they bonded and eventually married. Years later and after a lifetime of equally serendipitous moments, Dave and Kathleen discovered a property on Howell Mountain filled with promise but in need of tender loving care. they envisioned a winegrowing estate and began restoration to return the land to natural habitat and develop a vineyard to serve as inspiration for future vintages of Castiel Estate (pron. Cast-ee-all).  They assembled a team to realize their vision, including winemaker Celia Welch (Scarecrow, Corra, Barbour, Keever, 2480, Rewa, etc) and ace and “guru”  viticulturist Jim Barbour.

Castiel 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Howell Mountain
GGWC 179.99
FREE SHIPPING on 3 or more
Use code CASTIEL during checkout

Robert Parker 95+ Points: Deep garnet-purple, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon has a beguiling nose of baked blackcurrants, warm black plums and mulberries with touches of spice cake, forest floor, candied violets and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of earth-laced black fruits, with a firm, grainy frame and bags of freshness, finishing long and minerally. Impressive!”

Celia Welch Notes: “Hailing entirely from the rocky, elevated slopes of Howell Mountain, this 2017 Castiel Cabernet Sauvignon shows aromas of dark blackberry briars, espreso, earth, and just a very slight base note of sweet vanilla. On the palate, the immense structure of this wine is immediately apparent. Bright fruit combines with a core that shows density and strength. The tannins are plentiful but rounded, adding a sense of juiciness to the finish. This wine is clearly made to last. Three separate clones of Cabernet were harvested between October 1 and 6, 2017, and were kept separate through fermentation and for the first year of maturation in French oak barrels. The wines were carefully blended and returned to barrel for additional maturation prior to bottling in May of 2019.“

Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation

This 100 Point Chardonnay = FREE SHIPPING!

Justin Willett started out as an assistant winemaker and worked his way up owning his own label, which he created in 2005 producing a whopping 190 cases. His meticulous attention to detail has elevated him to “Must Have” status among many Chardonnay and Pinot Noir lovers. Working with some of the best vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills and Santa Barbara county, Justin has wowed many  with his great craft. His latest releases all garnered big press (95 – 100 point ratings). So after a decade of slinging grapes, you’d say that he got the hang of it!  GO JUSTIN!

Tyler 2018 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict, Santa Rita Hills
GGWC 79.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6 or more
Use code TYLER during checkout

100 Points – Purely Domestic Wine Report: The nose is pristine fresh, and focused resinous lemon, gardenia, wax and dry mineral. The palate entry is lean, pure and vibrant lemon, dried honey and white florals offering sophisticated layering of green apple, pear and nectarine fruit, toast and mineral. Always an impressive wine from this producer. Hard to top this, however. Flawless. Drink 2021 – 2035.”

95 Points- Decanter: Tyler Winery is fortunate to have access to some of the most prized fruit in Santa Barbara County, and none more-so than the original, own-rooted Chardonnay vines at Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. This is as definitive, complex, and pleasurable as it gets for Chardonnay from this vineyard, showing a combination of stone and orchard fruits melded with a taught, firm, mineral structure, all framed with an earthy, moss-like note. Aged for 10 months in 500l barrique, 15% of it new. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040”

95 Points Vinous: ”The 2018 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is one of the most elegant and refined wines in the Tyler range. White flowers, mint, citrus confit, sage and white orchard fruit. Justin Willet did a terrific job capturing all of the character of S&B in this very pretty and expressive Chardonnay. The 2018 is beautifully perfumed, but it also has terrific presence, with plenty of bright, saline notes to play off its natural richness.”

Also check out:
Tyler 2018 Pinot Noir “La Rinconda” Santa Barbara 96 Points

Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation

A 95 Point Napa Perennial Stunner by Philippe Melka UNDER $45

Winemaker Philippe Melka again crafted a stellar wine from Lail’s Totem Estate vineyard in Coombsville. 

Philippe Melka says: “The Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc 2018 has intense aromas of mango, nectarine, honeysuckle, pineapple and lime zest. Adding further intrigue and complexity are flavors of yellow peach, vanilla, honeydew melon and Bosc pear. Exhibiting classic varietal energy and nerve, this is a beautiful and vibrant vintage for this distinctive wine”

Lail “Blueprint” 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
GGWC 44.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code LAILSB during checkout

The Lail Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc wins enthusiastic endorsement yet again. Introduced by deep, discreetly oaked, very nicely composed aromas of white melons, limes, fresh grass and flowers and following suit with lovely, layered flavors of the same, it is a wine that impresses right now for its polish, precision and fruity vibrancy, but it is also one that is impeccably balanced and will age famously for a good half-dozen years providing that one can resist its already considerable appeals.

Wine Spectator 95 Points: “Philippe Melka makes this perennial stunner for Robin Daniel Lail, the U.S. representative to the Porto Protocol for climate action. It opens in a white flower aroma, with a palate reminiscent of lemon peel and wet stone. Balanced in weight, it is graceful, complex and lengthy in sumptuous flavors of pear and peach. The grapes were sourced from vineyards in Yountville and Coombsville.“

Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation

What is Elegance in Wine?

What is Elegance in Wine?

Elegance is one of the most important aesthetic properties of a wine. It is almost always a marker of superior quality although it gets overused in describing very ordinary wines which are seldom elegant

But what exactly is elegance? In ordinary language “elegant” is synonymous with “graceful” or “refined”. But that doesn’t help us define it unless we then define “graceful” and “refined”.

“Elegance” is one of Matt Kramer’s essential wine words. He writes:
I would submit that anything deserving of the description (and approbation) of “elegant” must display restraint. In a wine we must sense that there’s more to come, depths that are somehow being metered out to us, layer after layer. Tannins must be also restrained. (How often do we see the descriptor “silky” applied to such restrained tannins? Surely that word suggests elegance in a way that, say, “burlap” does not.) A certain sense of precision and taste clarity is, I believe, inherent in wines of elegance.

Some of Kramer’s attempts at a definition doesn’t quite ring true. There are many wines that show restraint that are not elegant. But when he writes “depths that are somehow being metered out to us” he is on the right track. Elegant wines don’t reveal everything all at once. They evolve. But a wine might evolve on the palate showing many stages yet still be clumsy. Many powerful or rustic wines evolve in interesting ways without being elegant. Although it’s true that elegant wines can’t have grippy or green tannins, large, massively tannic wines can be elegant if the tannins are well-integrated and balanced with other components. “Precision” and “taste clarity” seem to be true of elegant wines, but it seems to me they don’t define elegance but come along for the ride. Quality wines often are elegant and precise but one doesn’t define the other.

Former wine critic for the Wine Enthusiast Steve Heimoff defined elegant wines as silky, balanced, and complex. But that describes almost any well-made Pinot Noir. I wouldn’t describe great Amarone  or classed Bordeaux as silky but some are elegant. Here is my attempt to get clear on this concept. My definition is a bit pedantic. I still haven’t found a way to express this with style. It goes without saying that elegant wines must be balanced. That is a necessary but not sufficient condition since many balanced wines are not elegant. The rest of the criteria for elegance in wine are a function of the perceived movement on the palate. The movement of elegant wines has five characteristics:

1. Deliberate, not racy. The changes the wine goes through on the palate do not feel rushed. If the stages accelerate or decelerate, the change of pace is deliberate.
2.  Medium plus frequency of variation. Elegant wines are neither static nor kinetic but they have a degree of complexity in their evolution.
3. Subtle variation. Elegant wines are not linear but neither are they expansive or compressed. They are characterized by many small changes.
4. Transitions between stages are smooth and gradual rather than abrupt. This is probably the most important condition. Abrupt changes feel clumsy.
5. Tension is low to moderate. The various structural components of the wine do not offer resistance to each other. The structural components all evolve at a similar pace.

Elegance in my view is all about the pace of variation, the degree of variation, and the gradient of the transitions.
 

95 POINT THOMAS RIVERS BROWN PETITE SIRAH NOW 25% OFF!

Thomas Rivers Brown does not need any intro – “Mister 100 Point Wine”, “Mister I make wine for 20+ wineries”, “Mister I really know how to make great wine”, and so on… Any more accolades needed?

What can one say about this wine that hasn’t already been said? The Palisades Vineyard is truly one of the finest sites in all of California for Petite and the resulting wine is truly exceptional. Like the previous iterations, the wine pours dark as night into the glass however this book is not to be judged by its cover. Aromatically it shows white flowers and blackberries, while the first taste will reveal a savory, well-balanced attack of red fruit, spice & hints of game. Drink now with food or age it out 20 years, it will be hard to miss the window on this one.

Mending Wall 2017 Petite Sirah, Palisades Vineyard Napa Valley
Retail 56.00 – NOW 41.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more!
Use code MENDING during checkout
Mix & match with all Mending Wall wines OK

The 2017 Petit Sirah Palisades Vineyard conveys all the attributes that make this Calistoga site so compelling for Petite. An explosion of inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, menthol and white flowers give the 2017 its aromatic intensity and thrust. There is so much to look forward to. What a gorgeous wine this 2017 vintage is shaping up to be!

FMW 95 Points: ”Palisades is one of the better Petite Sirah vineyards (albeit there are not that many).  Inky purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, clay, gravel and slight char.  On the palate, this is delicious already.  Medium tannins.  Reserved black raspberry fruit with a soft texture.  Surprisingly accessible at this young age.  It should still improve over the next five to seven years and be good for another ten after that.  This will work great with Indian and Asian foods and is probably better with food although it drinks well on its own. Given the pedigree, this is fairly priced.”

Also check out these other great Mending Wall wines (they all assort for FREE SHIPPING)
MENDING WALL 2018 STONE ON STONE PROPRIETARY WHITE, NAPA VALLEY
MENDING WALL 2018 MORTAR ON STONE PROPRIETARY RED, NAPA VALLEY

Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation

Russell Bevan does it again, this man is on a mission

Addax is a high-end, boutique wine project owned by Josh Peeples. The wines are crafted by ace-winemaker extraordinaire Russell Bevan – probably one of the most sought-after winemakers in the US today.

Josh is also part the owner of Chateau Boswell, which sadly burned down during the awful 2020 wine country fire. I am trying to support everyone, but since he lost almost everything, let’s give him an extra hand, and the wines are amazing!!

Addax 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon “Tench Vineyard” Oakville, Napa Valley 97 Points
GGWC 184.99 net item 
FREE SHIPPING on 3 or more!
Use code ADDAX during checkout
Mix & match OK with ALL Addax wines

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is a great expression of this site. Dense purple-hued with tons of cassis, red plums, new saddle leather, and dark chocolate, as well as a touch of cedary herbs, this beauty is packed with fruit, has a full-bodied, layered, rounded texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It shows the vintage’s more straight profile on the palate, but packs way more fruit and depth than most. It’s a beautiful wine that’s going to evolve for 20 years or more.”

Addax 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – 96 Points
GGWC 134.99 net item 
FREE SHIPPING on 4 or more!
Use code ADDAX during checkout
Mix & match OK with ALL Addax wines

Vinous 96 Points: “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine I have tasted from Addax so far. The combination of freshness, energy and fruit is just fabulous. Here the balance of fruit from Houyi, Tench and Erba takes the Addax Cabernet into another realm of both nuance and dimension. The 2018 is such a promising wine.”

Russell’s Notes: “Dark and inviting in the glass, winemaker Russell Bevan has tamed the beast with this mouth filling Cabernet. A nose of blueberry, espresso, and black currants draws you into the glass, revealing a palate that showcases this wine’s hedonistic core. While dense and focused, this wine’s refined tannins carry its background notes of leather and spice throughout an almost never-ending finish.”

Addax 2018 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
GGWC 79.99 net item 
FREE SHIPPING on 6 or more!
Use code ADDAX during checkout
Mix & match OK with ALL Addax wines

Russell’s notes: This Pinot was crafted from the Pfendler vineyards in the Petaluma Gap region of the Sonoma Coast. Aged in 100% new French Oak, this powerhouse Pinot Noir is packed with spring flowers, black raspberries, kirsch, and licorice with subtle notes of forest floor. Deep purple in color, this is truly a Cabernet drinker’s Pinot Noir.

Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation

25% OFF Ehren Jordan’s utterly classic Zinfandel

Ehren Jordan is an Helen Turley protege, who took over at Turley after Helen and her brother parted ways. Ehren even increased Turley’s popularity and production…

After a successful and longtime stint he went on to create his own label Failla and Day, and as you know with equally great success!

Day by Ehren Jordan (Failla)
2016 Zinfandel “El Diablo” Russian River Valley
REGULAR 53.00 NOW ONLY 39.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more!
Use code DAYZIN during checkout

Winemaker Notes: ”El Diablo vineyard, situated in the northern part of the Russian River Valley AVA, has a long and storied history. Planted to mixed blacks on clay loam soils, the site has been farmed continually by Hector Garcia since it was planted”

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points: “From a site in the Russian River Valley, the 2016 Zinfandel El Diablo Vineyard just about screams “Zinfandel” at the top of its lungs with its utterly classic perfume of mulberries, plum, incense, and exotic spices. With medium-bodied aromas and flavors, integrated acidity, and a weightless texture, this puppy just glides over the palate and is a joy to drink. It should drink well for 7-8 years.”

Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation

VIRTUAL WINE TASTINGS ARE BACK!

VIRTUAL WINE TASTINGS ARE BACK!!

We had a lot of fun with our Virtual Wine Tasting events last year. So much fun, that you asked for a repeat – I listened to you!  
Join us on Friday February 12 or 26 (4 PM PST) for a virtual tasting experience.

If you have not yet joined us, I highly recommend you do! We taste Fridays at 4 PM PST. We meet with a winemaker at his/her winery and taste 3 new releases. 

We provide you with a zoom link and  provide some food pairing suggestions so you can make it a real Happy Hour!

This is a chance to visit California Wine Country from the comfort of your home, while enjoying the wines, meet and taste with the winemaker – So no travel, no hotel, no car rental – JUST order the 3-pack of wines, and we deliver it to your home in time for the session(s)!    Invite your friends, family and have a Social Distance Wine Tasting. I know that some of you have organized an entire dinner around the wines, others just SIPped and munched on finger foods, but everyone has had a great time.