Wine Last Sold on: February 22, 2013
Long Gamma Wines
Featured Wine:
2009 Red Blend
| Varietal: | Red Blend |
| Region: | California: Sonoma County |
| Avg. Price: | $18.00 |
| Wine Spies: | [REDACTED] |
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SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:
We only showcase wines that we love. While our emphasis is on quality first, every now and again we come across a real standout wine that rises above. When we do, we issue alerts like this one.
SUPER QPR ALERT:
At today’s special Wine Spies price, this wine delivers tremendous value - and a drinking experience that exceeds expectations, easily earning it this special QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Alert.
Mission Codename: Convexity
- Operative
- Agent Red
- Objective
- Send Agent Red in search of a juicy, delicious red blend that is easy on the wallet - while delivering a drinking experience that is far above its price class.
- Mission Status
- Accomplished!
Final Assessment
If you love juicy, fruit-driven, bold and delicious wines that won’t break the bank, we wholeheartedly recommend today’s fantastic 2009 Long Gamma Red Blend.
As fans of juicy red blends, we were very excited to discover today’s wine. A really fantastic value, this lovely wine delivers a drinking experience that well exceeded our expectations for a relatively low-priced wine.
Oak and tannin are beautifully integrated with the dark fruit and spice characteristics. This wine is balanced and juicy, with enough acidity to make it an easy food companion for most rich foods.
We recommend that you pair this wonderful and very flavorful wine with your favorite loaded burger recipe.
Tasting Profile
Soulful and deep, with dark purple hues. At the edges, lively magenta catches the light. Ultra skinny legs streak down the glass wall.
Ripe black fruit, smoked meat and black pepper take the lead, with dense blueberry and stewed black plum, black cherry and blackberry bramble following behind. Smokey and softly herbal aromas of rosemary and marjoram appear after the wine has had a chance to breathe.
Juicy and lush with a bold acidity and plush up-front tannins that all work together to drive jammy fruit and a lovely earthiness all around the palate. Primary flavors of dried plum, blueberry, ripe pomegranate, acaí, dried mission fig, holiday spice and toasty oak make this wine a treat on the palate.
An extra-long, full-flavored finish that lingers for a very long time. The wine ultimately finishes plush and soft with supple leather and a hint of brown spice.
What the Winery Says
Winemaker Notes:
Brash aromas of black cherry and cocoa are accompanied by notes of cola, spice and thyme, adding complexity. Sweet wild blackberry, blackcurrant, and blueberry coat the palate while savory notes of clove, licorice, star anise and molasses make the wine almost succulent. While the wine is soft and pretty, it is not lacking in power and style—its balanced acidity, and silky tannins provide structure and class to the dark core of luscious fruit and provide a mouth feel with more gravitas than flash.
Wine Specs
APPELLATION: Sonoma County
VINEYARDS: Alexander Valley & Estate Fruit
VARIETALS: A Blend of 80% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, and 10% Zinfandel
FERMENTATION: 100% Neutral French Oak
PRODUCTION: 980 Cases
ALCOHOL: 14.3%
About the Winery
Long Gamma is the brainchild of the team at Reynoso Family Vineyards, all Chicago ex-pats. The Reynoso Family Vineyards label has been making outstanding varietally designated wines from the Alexander Valley for 9 years, but we wanted to be able to play with blends, while producing delicious wines at reasonable prices. We saw a terrifying, exciting opportunity with all of this world-class fruit. With Long Gamma, we get to produce and blend delicious, may we even suggest irresistibly quaffable wines, with this fruit.
