Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/288975
78 / the tasting panel / april 2014 90 Hess Collection 2010 19 Block Mountain Cuvée, Mount Veeder Napa Valley ($38) Smooth, ripe, tangy and herbal with ripe plum, spice and velvety texture; dense, rich and showing chocolate and earth. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 11% Syrah, 6% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. 96 Williams Selyem 2011 Pinot Noir, Eastside Road Neighbors, Russian River Valley ($52) Dense and meaty with tannins and savory spices; earthy, concentrated and big with notes of earth and over-ripeness. 91 Steele Canyon Cellars 2011 50 Harvests Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($50) The Scotto family's 50th harvest was 2011; their first Cab under their own label was worth waiting for : velvety and lush with bright plum and cassis with nice hints of new oak, spice and vanilla; elegant, balanced and classic. Only 167 cases made. SCOTTO CELLARS 92 Merry Edwards 2011 Pinot Noir, Meredith Estate, Russian River Valley ($57) Deep color ; smooth texture and racy cherry fruit; nice earth and spice notes with hints of vanilla oak and a savory style; long and complex. 91 Avignonesi 2010 Grifi, Toscana, Italy ($60) Smooth and rich with earthy plum, spice and oak; concentrated, dense and balanced; long and complex. BLUE REVIEWS A Sure Bet THE GAMBLE FAMILY HAS BEEN FARMING in the Napa Valley since 1916. At first they raised livestock and orchards and then, after the end of World War II, grapes. Currently Tom Gamble, the fourth generation of the family, tends over 200 acres of prime Napa Valley vineyards. He is the first Gamble to make wine. The Gambles sell most of their grapes and in honor of the quality fruit they produce; the family name has graced the vineyard-designated wines of many top wineries. In 2000 Tom Gamble decided to bottle some wines under his own label, Gamble Family Vineyards. He hired European-educated winemaker Jim Close to look after the winery's 6,000-case production. Gamble Family Vineyards makes seven different wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, two Cabernets, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petite Sirah and a proprietary blend. All the wines are impeccable and reflect a refined European sensibility. For me, the standout wines are: 92 Gamble Family Vineyards 2011 Gamble Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc, Yountville–Napa Valley ($24) An exquisitely nuanced wine with crisp citrus, bright apricot and notes of pepper and flint; with an extra layer of rich flavor which delivers elegant and subtle oak tones; long and precise. 95 Gamble Family Vineyards 2010 Family Home Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville–Napa Valley ($90) Dark, intense and elegant with ripe plum, cherry, cassis and luscious texture; complex and yet seamless with hints of spice, cedar and mocha; dense, beautifully structured and extremely long; showing great aging potential. 91 Toscana, Italy ($60) Smooth and rich with earthy plum, spice and oak; concentrated, dense and balanced; long and complex. TP0414_072-101.indd 78 3/21/14 2:52 PM