2018 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch

2018 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

2018 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH

2018 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch
Gus Gamba specializes in ancient vines and can act as a human conduit for those vines to tell their best story in every vintage. In 2018, the tale flowed seamlessly, and Gus noted that this harvest was one of the smoothest he had ever experienced. The century-old vines of Starr Road Ranch produced intensely flavored berries with a powerful focus and brilliant detail. With solid reviews from Robert Parker and Jeb Dunnuck, now is the time to secure yours.
 
The Starr Road Ranch Zin comes from an organically farmed vineyard planted in 1920, where the ancient 95 year old vines rely on winter rains as their sole source of irrigation. They yield just 1.5 tons per acre of strikingly intense, concentrated, pristinely focused fruit.
 
Gus and his winemaking team double hand-sort the berries, with only the best making their way into fermentors. Next, the 2018 release spent an impressive 18 months aging in primarily American oak barrels, contributing to the spice characteristics. 
 
 
GAMBA
2018 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH
Retails at: $52
 
Your Price: $45
 
“The 2018 Zinfandel Old Vine Starr Road Ranch has restrained aromas of cranberry sauce, apricots and sweet berry fruits with accents of aniseed and bitter citrus peel. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with dense fruits set in a chewy frame and finishing slightly warm.”
91 Points
 
“Spice box, cedarwood, brambly herbs, and red and black plum notes all emerge from the 2018 Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch. Medium-bodied, with a core of sweet fruit as well as a focused style on the palate, it’s a pleasure-bent Zinfandel to drink in its youth.”
89 Points
 
“The 2018 Gamba Starr Road Old Vine Zinfandel exhibits a brilliant and beautiful, deep scarlet color. The aroma offers dark berries, blackberry compote, brown spices and a compelling hint of creamy oak. The wine is medium to full in body, with a mouth-watering, and full throttle fruit profile. Balanced, yet rich with dark black fruits, cinnamon stick, freshly baked butter pie crust with a note of cocoa and spice that fill the palate. The wine is woven with a lifting acidity that propels the wine giving it a pleasant buoyancy and freshness on the palate. The texture is polished, with soft leathery tannins. This is a classic Old Vine Zinfandel that will deserve a special place in your cellar. The finish is youthful, and intense, and enjoyable now, but will continue to get better with time in the cellar.”
2017 Gamba Starr Ranch Road Zinfandel

2017 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Zinfandel

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA 

2017 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH

2017 Gamba Starr Ranch Road Zinfandel
Over the years, We’ve offered some of the best brands out there, but few have developed the kind of love affair that Gamba has. It’s their undeviating style of matching fruit intensity with old vine depth and balance, and then delivering it all with immaculate detail that’s made them so beloved. Each release is a joy to behold…
 
Gamba birthed the Starr Road Ranch Zin from an organically farmed vineyard planted in 1920. The ancient vines have relied on winter rains as their sole source of irrigation for over 95 years, and they yield just 1.5 tons per acre of strikingly intense, concentrated, pristinely focused fruit. 
 
The 2017 is hugely appealing, with intense raspberry, sweet plum, briery cherry, and cracked black pepper. This vintage is rocking right now and will continue to provide copious amounts of enjoyment over the next decade.
 
GAMBA 
2017 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH
Retails at: $52
 
 
 
 “…. the 2017 Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Old Vine is similarly colored and offers a sweet plum, blueberries, sandalwood, and spice-driven bouquet. This carries to a medium-bodied, elegant, silky Zinfandel that has loads of character, as well as length. Aged 16 months in 40% new American oak, it’s going to keep nicely for upwards of a decade.” 91 Points
2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel

2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Zinfandel

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtOld Vine ZinfandelRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

GAMBA 

2016 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH

 
2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley Old Vine ZinfandelWhat pairs best with Memorial Day & 4th of July holidays?  For me, the answer is Zinfandel. Although the grape allegedly originated in Croatia, Zinfandel thrives better in California than any place else, period.  For that reason, Zinfandel is purely American.  If I had to choose only one Zinfandel to serve, it would have to be Gamba.  A perennial crowd favorite and proving to be top contenders on California’s Zinfandel scene, Gus Gamba’s old vine Zinfandels are gaining world-wide acclaim.  After Robert Parker’s latest visit to the winery, he alerted readers “...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.“
Fashioned from an organically farmed vineyard planted in 1920, the ancient vines have relied on winter rains as their sole source of irrigation for over 95 years.  Yielding just 1.5 tons per acre of strikingly intense, concentrated, pristinely focused fruit, the 2016 exhibits all the qualities that I look for in Old Vine Zinfandel. It’s simply stunning and absolutely rocking…
 
GAMBA 
2016 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “This 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel from the Gamba Starr Road Ranch offers hints of dried raspberry, blueberry compote, herbs, and candied plum on the nose. Dark and alluring in color, and the palate is bold yet well-integrated, with a velvety texture and weighty, yet graceful structure. Fully ripe, this Zin showcases knockout layers of mouth filling blackberry cobbler, herb and leather on the palate. This sumptuous wine embraces concentration and velvety richness. Robust, it finishes dusted in allspice, and cinnamon toast.“
 
Customers that enjoy Gamba’s Starr Road Ranch Zinfandel, may also enjoy these two terrific Zins…
2013 Valdez St Peter's Church Vineyard Zinfandel 2016 Gamba Estate Old Vine Zinfandel
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Valdez winery is owned by Ulises Valdez, one of California’s most sought after wine growers.  When he’s not farming vineyards for Aubert, Kistler, Paul Hobbs and others, he’s cultivating his dream of building a successful brand.  This Zinfandel arose from a 5 acre vineyard in Alexander Valley that’s planted to nearly century old vines, this wine exhibits all the qualities that I look for in Old Vine Zinfandel.  Rosenblum fans might also recognize this vineyard from single vineyard Zinfandels that they produced in the 1990’s.
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL 
ESTATE, OLD VINE
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
Everybody loves being the guest that brings the best wine to the party…  All you need is a couple 15-packs of Gamba and you can be that person, every time.  Always a crowd favorite and proving to be top contenders on California’s Zinfandel scene, Gus Gamba’s old vine Zinfandels are quickly gaining world-wide acclaim.  After Robert Parker’s latest visit to the winery, he alerted readers, “… 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.”