Gamble Family Vineyards
2011 Heritage Sites Napa Valley Red Wine
Red Blend
California: Napa Valley
Mission Briefing
The Vig
Gamble Family Vineyards has wowed us once again. We fell in love with their Sauvignon Blanc (as did a great many Operatives!), and we are thrilled to bring you today’s 2011 Heritage Sites Napa Valley Red Wine.
Today’s wine was crafted from a single heritage vineyard that lies in the shadow of Mount St. Helena in the northern section of the Napa Valley. Tended by the same family since Prohibition, the vineyard features rows of gnarly, head-trained vines that have been in production for over 50 years. These old vines produce very low yields of incredibly concentrated fruit, which is clearly evident in today’s wine.
We love an elegant Red Blend here at The Wine Spies - especially when it is only $24.99. Be sure to act fast!
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Deep sanguine hued with bold streaks of purple shining through as well. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Condensed and layered aromas with a dark fruit compote of black cherry, blackberry, and mulberry laid overtop dried blueberry, sandalwood, briar patch, cinnamon, and espresso bean. |
| Taste: | The condensed flavors carry through on the palate, creating a savory and very rich flavor profile. The dark berry compote hinted at on the nose is present on the palate, with the additional flavors of dark chocolate, black peppercorn, smoky wood fire, dark roasted coffee bean, and a pleasant undercurrent of dried herbs. |
| Finish: | A wonderful blend of complexity and approachability, today’s wine has loads of dark fruit and smoky goodness in one smooth-sipping package. Enjoy! |
| Pairing: | Grilled skewers of pork tenderloin, pearl onions, red bell pepper, and mushrooms, finished with a teriyaki glaze. |
What the Winery Says
Aromas of blueberry pie, blackberry compote and caramel, with a hint of candied bacon and cinnamon. On the palate, ripe blackberry and blackcurrant, cocoa, coffee and smoked bacon seasoned with white pepper. Finely balanced between sweet and savory notes, this wine is very approachable, laden with smoke and dark fruits.
Vineyard Notes Heritage Sites is our red blend from old vines and old varieties that prior to 1960 were much more familiar in Napa. In the northern part of Napa Valley, under the gaze of Mt. St. Helena, we are fortunate to have begun caring for a heritage vineyard previously tended by the same family since before Prohibition using traditional practices. The vines range from more than 35 years in age to almost 50. They are gnarly, head-trained (no trellis wires) and dry-farmed on well drained soils. They have battle scars and character aplenty. Due to old age and the absence of drip irrigation, yields are naturally very low, less than 2 tons per acre. Flavors are concentrated in to this very small quantity of grapes.
- Winemaker
- Jim Close
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Fruit Variety
- 46% Zinfandel, 41% Syrah, 9% Charbono, 4% Petite Sirah
- Cooperage
- 19 months in French, American, and Hungarian oak, 33% new
- ABV
- 14.3%
About the Winery
My (ad)venture in wine seems to me to be a natural progression of history. As a third generation Napa farmer, I have been influenced all my life by my forebears’ lives in agriculture. They have left, as part of their legacy, their deep and abiding affinity for the land from which came not only their livelihood, but also a life full of purpose. I am hopeful I can transfer that way of life to yet another generation.
Given this legacy, one does not continue farming for dispassionate reasons alone—there are easier ways to make a living.
And thus, taking the next step and putting one’s name on a bottle of wine does not come lightly.
All our wines are produced in small quantities, with the careful attention to farming my forebears would expect. I hope you will try one or more of my wines and let me know if you agree.