Made with fruit from neighboring, family-owned vineyards, with a combination of grapes from old and younger vines (5-20 years old).
The 2015 Family Ranches Zinfandel appears opaque, with an alluring dark ruby garnet color. Aromas of raspberry, blackberry, caramelized nuts and allspice fill the glass. Full in body and juicy on the palate, the wine expresses balanced, yet intense notes of huckleberry and blueberry pie, laced with bramble fruit on the palate. This full flavored wine offers immediate approachability, with its luscious mouthfeel, depth and complexity. The well integrated dusty tannins are complimented by cedar and notes of mocha that weave seamlessly on the finish. This bold wine was aged in 40% new American oak cooperage to complement the vibrant fruit flavors. The finish is long and enjoyable with subtle nutty toast and spice notes. Enjoy!
Vineyard Information: Produced from old vine vineyards and younger vineyard blocks located entirely in the Russian River Valley AVA, the exceptional fruit for our family Ranches Zinfandel is organically grown and dry farmed. The vines are cultivated without the use of herbicides or pesticides, and rely primarily on winter rains as the sole source of irrigation for the vineyards. The grapes from historic old vine vineyards and young parcels are only assembled after each lot is carefully fermented and separately aged in both American and French oak cooperage to produce this lovely cuvee of Zinfandel.
"The 2013 Zinfandel Family Ranches has a dense ruby/purple color, and the wine shows glorious levels of blackberry and cherry fruit with pepper and roasted meat. It is unctuously textured, full-bodied, and a terrific, rich, heady Zinfandel to drink over the next 5-7 years. These are pretty serious Zinfandels and certainly Gamba’s name is going to have to be included with some of the stars of Sonoma, such as Hartford Court, Carlisle, Bedrock and even the superstar Turley over in Napa."
- The Wine Advocate (Issue #223, March 2016), 92 pts
"Bold and briary, with blackberry aromas leading to flavors of black raspberry jam, caramel and pepper. For fans of jammy, superripe wines. Drink now through 2016. 800 cases made."
- Wine Spectator (October 2014), 87 pts
Gamba Vineyards and Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery in Sonoma County, California. The winery was founded in 1999, by Agostino and Paulette Gamba, the realization of ...
Read More
