New York Wine Tasting Report - FREE SHIPPING OFFER!

Golden Gate Wine Cellars
2337 Ocean Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94127
T: 415.337.4083
E: frank@goldengatewinecellars.com
W: www.goldengatewinecellars.com

Our Motto: Always Drink Good Wine !

Frank’s New York Wine Tasting Event

I had a blast in New York City last week. I took my wife and two daughters along for some R & R. The weather gods were on our side, as it was nice and sunny the entire time we were there. As for the tasting itself, we had a nice turnout, and I was glad to see some “old” faces and meet up with some new ones as well. We had a nice line up of wines and Fresh Direct did a good job with the food platters we had ordered from them.

In the white wine category, the 2006 Carica and Saracina Sauvignon Blancs, and 2007 Luli and 2006 Fantesca Chardonnay showed amazingly well. In the red wine section, Wilson’s 2005 “Sawyer” Zinfandel, Trespass 2005 Cabernet Franc, Page 2005 “Revolver” Cabernet Franc, Clark Claudon 2005 “Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon as well the 2005 Barlow “Estate” Cabernet were a big hit.

All together a grandiose evening of great wine and conversation.

We did some good lunching and dining, visited some “touristy” locations and experienced a lot of the great things New York City has to offer. Of course the noise, crowds and occasional rudeness is to be expected.

If I can recommend a few places to dine on your next trip, make sure to put the following on your list.

Alfama, Balthazar , Veritas, Bistro Cassis and Pommes Frites if you want to experience the way Belgian folks eat and make french fries. Also Balducci’s delicatessen is a great place to pick up some well-prepared hot meals. We took advantage of this since we stay next door.

As for the upcoming holidays, make sure to take advantage of our FREE SHIPPING offer. You can either call, email or order on-line.

Here are few wines that are starting to sell out well before our newsletter will arrive in your email (or snail) box.

White Rock 04 Cabernet Sauvignon “Laureate” , Napa Valley -- Retail 55.00 – GGWC 46.00
I can’t believe it, but White Rock is approaching 20 years in business! I fondly recall their 1987 Claret, which was their second release. This vintage could have been a “claret” as well, but since it has 75% Cabernet as well as 20 % Cabernet Franc, 3 % Merlot, and 2 % Petit Verdot, the “Laureate” was born. White Rock is an amazing property. Nestled on and between a few mountain slopes, this estate has been able to produce old-world-style wines from its property for nearly two decades now. I would say that the 2004 is one for the books! It exhibits powerful, dark fruit aromas and a rich, broad mouth-feel. Ripe blackberry and currant are complemented by undertones of coffee and vanilla bean. Notes of chocolate and a hint of licorice linger through a finish of lush tannins and dark plum.

Fisticuffs 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – Retail 33.00- GGWC 29.99
For those who dream of big and expensive Cabernets and don't want to pay the big bucks... I got news for you! I heard rumors that the juice that does not make it into Hourglass, one of those $140.00+ wines, goes into the Fisticuff label. By no means, this is a great wine not a reject! This wine is the real deal. Intense Cabernet aromas with hints of vanilla, plum and black cherry aromas. Medium to full in body with lively and lush fruit on the palate that gives a real "punch" into a long and pleasantly flavorful almost silky finish. This is a wine that would go well with some hardy red meats, a rack of lamb or steak.

Page - Revolver 2005 Cabernet Franc “The Fury”, Napa Valley -- Retail 50.00 – GGWC 44.99
Like the other wines of Page Wine Cellars, this is artisan winemaking at its best: hand-worked and hand-crafted. This is no ordinary Cab Franc! Brash, yet supple...the Cabernet Franc shows its true colors
by expressing deep blackberries laced with a hint of dried thyme. This wine is aged for 28 months in 100% French oak. Truly an eyebrow raiser...enjoy!!! (Yes, there is a story behind the nick-name ‘The Fury’ but it is unbefitting for print).

Kokomo 2006 Cuvee, Sonoma County – Retail 24.00 – GGWC 19.99
This is “Bordeaux meets the Rhone.” A blend of Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah, this dense, dark and very intensely concentrated wine (almost black in color) is very complex on both the nose and palate. It has a luscious flavorful body, lots of black cherry, chocolate, and even a hint of tobacco and minerality as well. This young puppy is a great value, and a stellar holiday wine!

Gargiulo 2005 Aprile “Super Oakville Red” Napa Valley -- Retail 50.00 – GGWC 44.00
Gargiulo’s Super Oakville Red Aprile is their “Super Tuscan.” It is produced from a 1.5 acre block on the Money Road Ranch (Estate), in the heart of Napa Valley’s Oakville district. It has aromas of violet, cherry, sage and wild flowers. On the palate, the aromas translate into lush flavors of currant, black cherry, and blueberry all supported by ripe tannins which create a dusty finish. The mouth feel of this wine is lush and lingering, almost visceral, for their interpretation of its ‘Super Tuscan’ 97 Sangiovese and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon were blended to craft a wine with a deep ruby color, complexity and long, broad finish.

Paloma 2006 Merlot, Estate Spring Mountain Napa Valley -- Retail 65.00 – GGWC 56.00
This must have been one of the best endeavors put together by Paloma. This limited release offers an aroma of chocolate, toffee and black cherry. Full in body with lots of intensity and juicy flavors, the wine screams with black cherries and with some sweet, subtle vanilla in the background. Lush and fleshy, and all that a Merlot should be, this well-made wine is very intense and shows nicely from start to the long, elegant, silky finish.

Lioco 2006 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard, Sonoma Coast --Retail 60.00- GGWC 52.99
Only 256 cases were produced! Here, Pinot Noir's orchestral prowess is on display. The seductive Mount Eden clone at David Hirsch's property hits octaves so high, you wonder how such an elixir came from humble grapes. It's as though a liqueur was made from rose petals and red raspberries. **LIMITED **

B. Kosuge 2006 Pinot Noir Manchester Ridge, Mendocino – Retail 44.00- GGWC 39.99
I have long admired the wines of the cooler parts of Mendocino County, like the Anderson Valley, for their “lightness” (by that I don’t mean light bodied) and perfume. They seem to dance across the tongue, without sacrificing richness or body, which seems to me to be the definition of a great Pinot Noir. The wines from Manchester are somewhat more sinewy than their counterparts from down below. The 2006 has a lovely perfume, is medium-full bodied and has a lot of flavor packed onto a lithe frame. Now, pretty grapes don’t automatically translate into beautiful wine, but in this case there is an unblemished purity to the flavors in this wine that is pretty irresistible. 300 cases produced.

Stephen Test 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, O'Neel Ranch, Russian River – Retail 25.00 – GGWC 21.00
This Sauvignon Blanc is a real “test” for those who “know” wine. Yes, it underwent malolactic fermentation, but it was suppressed to retain the real Sauvignon qualities! The finished wine is complex with subtle hay, melon and pear notes. It is relatively low in alcohol and retains the crisp acidity of the cool-climate site. It's going to be perfect with seafood or as an appetizer-type wine for the upcoming holiday season!

Spencer Roloson 2007 Viognier, Knight’s Valley – Retail 32.00 – GGWC 25.00
100% Viognier grapes from the infamous Condrieu clone were used in the production of this wine. The wine is rich and intense on the nose and palate. With tangerine and pineapple fruit that integrates with classic flavors of beeswax, apricot and the exotic floral, anise, and bee pollen aromas. A bright beam of acidity elevates the finish, supporting the rich minerality of this medium to full-bodied wine.

Of course make sure to inquire about our various gift case selections. As it has been the case for many years now, the most popular giftcases is:

Frank’s Holiday Sampler ** --- Retail $415.00- GGWC $350.00*

A mixed case of spectacular hard-to-find wines from premium local producers, as well as a stellar quality Champagne. This case is intended for those on your list who enjoys wine and is exploring the different regions and top producers. This mixed case is what we are all about: top-notch wines at affordable prices. Page Revolver “The Fury” Cabernet Franc, Adams Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Saracina “Estate” Petite Syrah, B. Kosuge Pinot Noir , Jelly Jar “Nova” Zinfandel, Nicholas Feuillate NV Blue Label, Kokomo Cuvee, Gain Bay Cabernet, White Rock Cabernet, Lioco Chardonnay, Stephen Test Sauvignon Blanc and Pey Riesling.

For those collectors among us, or those who need to buy a special gift, make sure to check out our California Myth **Full Gift Case Retail $1550.00 – GGWC $1299.00*

A collectors dream, a must have, all unique, hard-to-find cult, boutique, artisan producers that you usually only read in the press. Now you get to taste them!2005 Hourglass (R. Foley) Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003 Bonny’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Revana (Heidi Barrett) Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 DuMol Pinot Noir “Designated Vineyard,”2006 Paloma Merlot, 2006 Kongsgaard Chardonnay, 2005 Igneous Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Trespass Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Black Bird Proprietary Red, 2006 Small Vines Pinot Noir, and 2005 Kamen (Mark Herold) Cabernet Sauvignon