Mid May Wine Notes

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

Our Motto: Always Drink Good Wine!






PAHLMEYER SPECIAL OFFER



Pahlmeyer “Jayson” 2006 Pinot Noir – Retail 65.00 NOW 49.99

Minimum order 6 bottles to secure the “big discount price”



In the years that Pahlmeyer produces awesome quality and quantities, he creates his name sake Jayson. This label is always very limited! We compared notes with the 2006 Pinot Noir, which got 94 Points in Robert Parker, and for half the price, one cannot go wrong with the Jayson Pinot Noir!



Pahlmeyer “Jayson” 2005 Proprietary Red – Retail 60.00 NOW 49.99

Minimum order 6 bottles to secure the “big discount price”



I just tasted (and compared) the Pahlmeyer Regular which received 96 Points in Robert Parker and the “Jayson” Pahlmeyer – a mere image and at less than half the price one would make a big mistake not to jump on some Jayson 2005 Proprietary Red!



2005 Mirror Cabernet, Napa Valley – Retail 85.00 – GGWC 74.99

Hourglass Fans - I have another surprise in the bag! Jeff Smith owner of Hourglass and Rob Lawson (Jeff's partner and winemaker at Fisticuffs) partnered with Rick Mirer, former NFL Quarterback to create MIRROR, a limited production Cabernet sourced from two famed St. Helena and Oakville estates. I featured the wine at our bi-monthly Wine Extravaganza and it was a BIG HIT! Only 500 cases of this gem were produced, and my crowd of almost 100 was shocked that the wine only retailed for $75.00! It tasted like Colgin, Spottswoode, etc at a much lower price! We sold a good amount of it at the event, and I do not anticipate having it around for a long time. So hurry up, and get some of this well-structured, well-balanced, Cabernet! On the nose one is greeted by lively black berries, followed on the full-bodied palate by similar flavors and a touch of toasty vanilla and anise. The wine is intense but not in your face. On the palate it delivers a lush, ripe and richly concentrated core of dark fruits (cassis, blackberries and dried cranberries). I did decant it, and allowed it to breathe for a good 2 hours prior to serving. It opened nicely, and turned many heads! That said, the finish was superb and long.



Hurry Up! As I will N.F.L. - Not have the wine For Long (NFL hahaha)



Ramian 2006 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Napa

Retail 45.00 – GGWC 36.99

This must be the BEST Cabernet Franc I have ever tasted. Cab Franc is one of those “forgotten” varietals, but with the right touch one produces an amazing wine. That is what Brian Ramian achieved with this latest release. This wine reveals a superb fragrant bouquet of red and black stone fruits and a touch of anise. The wine is full in bodied but well-balanced. Not the in-your-face, concentrated, super-tannic monster, but a well-made wine that offers ripeness, as well as excellent fruit, acid and purity. It finishes long, with subtle, silky tannins. 375 cases produced.



Ramian 2006 “Chapter 6” Proprietary Red, Napa Valley

Retail 70.00- GGWC 56.99

This sixth release, thus Chapter Six is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc. On the nose this wine has an old world elegance and shows dark black fruits, coffee, black liquorices, smoked meats and sweet vanilla. A big fat opulent mouthfeel of ripe blackberries, black currants, roasted coffee beans and chocolate dominate the mid-palate with a long toasty oak finish. This is an elegant, multidimensional, well balanced atypical Napa Valley red. 257 cases produced.



Ramian 2007 Reserve White Blend (Viognier/Roussanne)

Retail 30.00 – GGWC 24.99

This wine is a blend of 57% Viognier and 43% Roussanne. The micro climate of this valley is perfect for growing Viognier. Warm sunny days along with a constant cool breeze yield optimum conditions for achieving perfect ripeness. Bananas and immense amounts of white tropical fruits provide a telling story on the nose that carries off perfectly onto the palate and soft long, lingering finish. Only 130 cases produced.



Bedrock “Heirloom” Proprietary Red, Sonoma Valley

Retail 38.00 – GGWC 32.49

The inaugural release of the Bedrock Heirloom Red is a classic California field blend. Composed of Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Barbera. Typical of Sonoma Valley , this year’s wine features a dazzling aromatic profile of crushed red berries, kirsch, pumpkin pie spice, bright, clarified, fruit flavors and rich structural components imparted by the mixed blacks which ground the wine and indicate that it will age gracefully for 8-10 years. 185 cases produced. (92 Pt Wine Spectator)

Black Kite 2007 Kite’s Rest Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley – Retail 50.00 – GGWC 45.00

Jeff Gaffner (Saxon Brown) produces the awesome Black Kite wines! This latest release offers layers of raspberry, dark chocolate, mocha, lavender and violets with hint of clove, cassis, cedar and rose petal. On the palate this full-bodied, but elegantly structured wine offer a graceful interplay of fine-grained tannins, focused acids and ripe fruit. This is a wine that could benefit from some time in the cellar, although decanting it for an hour or two would do wonders as well.

Wine Spectator 92 Pt : 2007 Black Kite "Kite's Rest" tops the charts this week, with a ripe, fleshy offering. Very ripe and rich. Full-bodied, with tiers of black cherry, wild berry, plum and spice. Picks up a spicy, minerally edge and gains body on the finish, where the fruit is pure and fleshy. Drink now through 2014. 726 cases made." — James Laube.



Saracina 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino

Retail 25.00 – GGWC 22.99

The Saracina folks are all about bio-dynamic, organic farming! Their 25- to 40-year-old, lower yield organically farmed vineyards produce intense fruit with excellent varietal character. The palate reveals pronounced citrus, white peach, key lime and ripe quince flavors, balanced by a crisp, dry acidity. This intense mouth-feel is enhanced by the extended lees aging and batonnage. The classic aromas of lime, grapefruit and wet river stone recall a Loire-style Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is a laser beam on the palate! 750 cases produced.



Atrea 2007 “The Choir” Mendocino

Retail 22.50 – GGWC 19.99

David Ramey produced yet another gem! This blend of 76% Roussanne, 24% Viognier offers a hugely aromatic nose of apricot, honeysuckle, orange blossoms and jasmine has become the hallmark of The Choir. The palate carries similar flavors with emphasis on pitted fruits. It sports richness without excess weight. Wine can be powerful and vibrant simultaneously when made well, as The Choir demonstrates. This wine will appeal to the "ABC" (Anything But Chardonnay) crowd. 800 cases produced.



Verdad 2008 Albarino, Central Coast

Retail 22.00 – GGWC 19.99

Albarino is a unique Spanish grape variety that makes lovely aromatic and lively wine. This wine has fresh white peach aromas and flavors, layered with hints of orange blossoms, almonds and exotic citrus with a dry, crisp finish. Only 448 cases were produced.



Walter Hansel 2006 Chardonnay North Slope

Retail 40.00 – GGWC 35.99

This wine received a 94 point rating from Robert Parker – so what else is there to say about this. The wine has a touch of minerality on the nose. On the palate this full bodied wine offers gobs of citrus and a touch of tropical fruit notes. It is a fruity wine, but well balanced with the right amounts of acid. A real crowd pleaser, and as always limited production.



Bravante 2006 Merlot, Estate, Howell Mountain

Retail 45.00 – GGWC 39.99

Bursting with huge mountain black fruit and silky tannins, this wine is a perennial sell-out. The mouthfeel shows off the luscious mountain fruit, while the silky tannins remind you of cedar, earth and chalk - typical Howell Mountain trademarks. The nose is intense, with aromas of blackberries, provincial herbs, and the usual hints of mushrooms, chalk and cinnamon that our wines always turn up. The finish tracks the aromas and palate with the addition of just a hint of spicy oak, and the wine is so firm and balanced, you only notice the oak as the gentle, "velvet glove" holding it all in place.



Chronicle 2006 Zinfandel “Gaddis” Russian River Valley – Retail 44.00 – GGWC 35.99 The Gaddis Zin possesses a brilliant red-purple hue. It is led in the nose by deep and complex aromas of raspberry and anise, highlighted by spice and chocolate ganache. The wine has a balanced attack of mouthwatering red fruit, framed by excellent acidity. Gaddis shows certain elegance in its infancy. Only 119 cases produced!!



Chronicle 2006 Zinfandel “Old Vine” Russian River Valley – Retail 35.00 – GGWC 27.99

A blend of 23% Bacigalupi, 321% Gaddis and 45% Gambogi. This old vine Zin is "bang-for-your-buck"! Charm and tons of fruit! Bacigalupi brings brambly blackberry and mid palate richness; Gaddis brings backbone and structure, and Gambogi brings intriguing chocolate and claret-like aromatics and flavor profiles. 400 cases produced.

Chronicle 2006 Pinot Noir “Cerise” Anderson Valley

Retail 55.00 – GGWC 47.99 Ace winemaker Ted Lemon (Littorai) produced 240 cases of this amazing Pinot Noir! Cerise is a low-yielding property in the Anderson Valley at 800 - 1200 feet elevation. Those familiar with Ted's winemaking and for that matter Cerise vineyard, know that he is "the" Pinot man! This wine aroma offers of a touch of barnyard with hints of black and raspberry. On the palate this medium to full bodied Pinot offers similar flavors. Well-structured and with good concentration (good balance of fruit and acid!), this wine has a modest tannic finish that will enable you to store this wine and enjoy it for many years to come!

Chronicle 2006 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Retail 44.00- GGWC 34.99

Ace Winemaker Ted Lemon (Littorai, etal) produced a stellar Pinot Noir sourced from three Sonoma Coast vineyards. Only 495 cases of this little gem were produced. The Sonoma Coast Pinot shows hints of spice and sandalwood with pronounced notes of strawberry and Bing cherry. This medium to full-bodied wine offers up a dose of almost sweet cherries and strawberries. The wine is elegant and drinks amazingly well. It is structured and balanced, and finishes will silky and lively tannins.



DUMOL NEW RELEASES!!!!!!!!



I just sampled the new DuMol wines - WAW (What a "bunch of" Wines!). The 2007 Russian Valley Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah were all amazing. I also sampled the designated vineyards which will not be available until this fall.

Remember, those of you on the Spring DuMol list always get first pick in the fall!



The wines will be arrive at the end of this week and we have pre-sold about 75% of them! So don't procrastinate any longer. You have to CALL or EMAIL me as we are NOT posting them on our website (yet). We want to give our regular clients first buying rights before the crowd of hungry DuMol fans "finds" us before you had a chance to buy your allocation!



2007 DuMol Chardonnay, Russian River Valley - $54.99

Light green/yellow color. Multi-layered aromas of lime zest and white flowers then cantaloupe, an edge of ginger and some exotic lychee. Initially zesty grapefruit on the palate followed by wonderful fruit richness with a core of baked apple, sweet lemon honey and nutmeg. Great snappy acidity balances the long oily-rich finish. Serve no cooler than 55 degrees to ensure full flavor development. Drink between release and 2013.



2007 DuMol Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley $65.00

Bright garnet color that darkens in the glass; Orange peel, fresh raspberry and briary aromas darken to kirsch, clove and blackberry. Great purity of Pinot fruit: sweet plum, spicy cola and wild berry flavors that are vivid and juicy lead to black tea, dried cherry and licorice complexity. At once supple then broadly structured with a long fresh expansive finish.



2007 DuMol Syrah, Russian River Valley $58.00

Bright ruby purple color; intensely floral aromas of violet with ripe plum, black raspberry and soy notes with an edge of smoked meat. Lovely ripe fruit core: blackberry and boysenberry with roast coffee and dried thyme then a plush velvety mid-palate and balanced tannins and acid on the supple finish. Maintains freshness and elegance throughout with developing complexity in the glass.



This offer is good while supplies last.



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Frank Melis

aka St. Frank - The Patron Saint of Tannins
Golden Gate Wine Cellars

2337 Ocean Avenue

San Francisco , CA 94127
Tel: 415 337.4083
Fax: 888 790 WINE (9463)
E: frank@goldengatewinecellars.com
W: www.goldengatewinecellars.com

Our Motto: Always Drink Good Wine™ !



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Our Motto: Always Drink Good Wine™ !





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