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We are proud to announce that Gamache Vintners 2005 Estate Merlot received the Gold medal at the third annual Seattle Wine Awards. We are also extremely excited that the 2004 Reserve Cabernet won a Silver medal, and the 2005 Estate Syrah was selected for the Vintners Honor – Outstanding Syrah Award.
Grand Awards of Excellence are earned by the top scoring wines – 1st / 2nd / 3rd – in each varietal/price category. The Vintner’s Honor ~ Outstanding Wine Award recognizes wines that have received a minimum scoring consensus to be eligible for an award.
In Seattle Magazine’s third annual wine awards Gamache Vintners 2004 Estate Syrah was selected as the Best Syrah over $20.
“Bob and Roger Gamache have been growing some of the best grapes in the State since 1982 in their eponymous vineyard and now they have begun making some incredible wines as well. Their estate-grown Syrah highlights why Washington Syrah is gaining accolades. This first release is a luscious, complex combination of smoky, meaty aromas, a silky feel on the tongue, and intense dark cherry fruit and peppery spice with balancing acidity. A great match for grilled lamb or beef.”
89 Gamache 2004 Gamche Vintners Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon “This 50-50 blend from two well-established vineyards is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Young and stiff and still quite tannic, it shows compact cassis and blackberry fruit with an earthy underpinning, a hint of stem that adds some bite to the tannins. As time smooths it and softens the tannins, more of the concentrated fruit should emerge; it’s well made and balanced; a fine example of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon done in a classic Bordeaux style.”
89 Gamache Vintners Estate Cabernet Sauvignon “Consistent with the rather lean house style this opens with herbal aromas set against firm, varietal cassis and blue plum fruit. The grapes cpme from a block planted in 1985. Some barrel spice adds cinnamon to the nose, and there is a touch of Cab Franc (6%)in the blend, which stiffens up the tannins. Retasting this wine after it had spent a few extra months in the bottle, its smoothed out a bit, and the sweet black-cherry fruit has moved forward. This should age really well. Cellar Selection”
90 Gamache Vintners 2004 Estate Syrah “this is young, tangy, juicy, and sweet, with ripe but quite tart fruit, showing plenty of acid and citrus rind. the toasty oak flavors are front and center, and delicious. All the Gamache red wines will benefit from additional bottle age, which will soften and meld the bacon fat, herb, and sharp spice flavors. There is a lot of potential here for further development. Editors’ Choice”
The results of Wine Press Northwest’s 8th annual Platinum Juding have recently been released, and Gamache Vintners faired very well.
The Platinum Judging gathered together over 258 wines which had earned top medals at one of more than 30 competitions that the editors of Wine Press Northwest monitor throughout the year.
Our 2004 Estate Syrah was awarded a Platinum Medal, and was described as a “lusciuos and sexy Syrah that opens with aromas of blackberries, spicy oak, a hint of tobacco, and even black corinthian leather. On the palate are lush flavors of ripe dark fruit, chocolate and such spices as rosemary, thyme, and mint. It’s a complex red wine with an extensive finish.”
Also honored was our 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, which took double gold. The Cabernet was described as having “aromas of dark fruit and toasted oak and intense flavors of black cherries and black olives.”
Platinum awards were given to “the best of the best,” while wines earning double gold were considered to be “among the best wines in the Pacific Northwest.”
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon “Purple- colored, it delivers aromas of pain grille, plum, and black currant. This is followed by a soft, plush wine with ripe flavors.”
2004 Estate Syrah “saturated opaque purple with a smoky, slightly kinky nose of leather, sausage and blueberry compote. Supple-textured, forward, and tasty.”
Paul Gregutt, wine columnist for the Seattle Times, has recently released the book Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide. This book examines Wshington’s top vineyards, wineries, wines, and newcomers to watch.
Gamache Vintners is featured in the “rookies” section. The rookies group is comprised of wineries which have produced less than five vintages, but whose “early results are exceptional.” Paul writes ” Gamache certainly has access to great fruit, so everything it makes for its own vines is giong to be worth hunting for.”
Gamache Vintners Cabernet and Syrah are also featured on the list of best vaietally labeled bottles.
Paul Gregutt, wine writer for the Seattle Times, recently featured Gamache Vintners in his article titled “The growth of the state’s grower-winemakers.”
“I first brought the wines of Gamache Vintners to your attention in a column written in March 2005, when these Columbia Basin growers had just released their first cabernet. Another brother operation, the Gamache vineyards date back to the early 1980s. Bob and Roger Gamache (pronounced guh-MASH) have grown grapes for such prestige wines as Northstar merlot, Eroica riesling and Columbia Crest reserve cabernets. Abeja, Long Shadows and Tamarack are also customers.
Gamache Vintners’ production is up to 3,000 cases, and the lineup is expanding as the brothers add new plantings of such trendy varietals as malbec and roussanne. Gamache wines are made by Charlie Hoppes, and their new winery will be located adjacent to his Fidélitas winery on the lower slopes of Red Mountain.
Why did they get into winemaking after two decades as successful growers? “We were swallowed up for years by the big company [Ste. Michelle],” says Bob Gamache. “We wanted to see what we could do on our own. People have picked up on the fact that we make 100 percent varietal, 100 percent estate wines. They say there’s something different about this. It made us think we might have accidentally stumbled on something here,” he says with a grin.
Personally, I love the pure varietal/estate vineyard concept, but it is very difficult to do well. Gamache has all the necessary ingredients to make it a success: established vines and a track record for carefully nurturing them, an experienced winemaker and a clear sense of varietal character.
It all comes through nicely in the 2005 Estate Merlot ($24) and 2004 Estate Syrah ($28), substantial wines that are still quite young and a bit rough around the edges. The 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($28) breaks the pure-varietal mold slightly with the addition of about 6 percent cabernet franc. Nonetheless, it’s a very firm, spicy and attractive wine from vines that were planted in 1985.”
2004 Reserve Cabernet wins Silver!
2004 Cabernet wins Bronze!
2004 Estate Syrah wins Silver!
For 67 years, thic competition has showcased the finest vintages from countries throughout the world, and illustrated time and again why this wine competition is considered one of the most prestigious.
Just in time for summer our, our second Estate Viognier is now available. Bottled on June 12th, this wine will really benefit from a few more weeks in the bottle, but if you can’t wait it is available.
2004 Cabernet Wins GOLD!
2004 Sryah Wins Bronze!
The Northwest Wine Summit is managed by VinoChallenge, LLC. It focuses exclusively on wines produced in the Northwest, specifically, wines from Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Syrah wins Silver!
The Grand Award of Excellence is earned by the top scoring wines in each varietal/price category. Wine must receive a minimum scoring consensus to be eligible for awards.
2004 Estate Syrah wins Gold!
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon wins Silver!
Truly one-of-a-kind, wines submitted to the Grand Harvest Awards are judged according to terroir or the context of their own viticultural area. The goal of the Grand Harvest Awards has been, and continues to be, to identify the finest examples from each viticultural region.
Top 30 Cabernets of 2006
#19 Gamache Vintners 2003 Reserve Cabernet
#29 Gamache Vintners 2003 Estate Cabernet
Top 20 Syrahs of 2006
#8 Gamache Vintners 2003 Estate Syrah
Sign up today to become a member of the Cellar Rats Wine Club. As a member you will receive two shipments a year of three different wines, billed at the time of each shipment. Wine club shipments will include new releases, pre-releases, and library wines.
There is no joining fee, your credit card will be billed at the time of the shipment, plus shipping, handling, and tax where applicable. You may cancel your membership at any time, just let us know in writing prior to your next delivery (you will be responsible for all shipments through the date we receive your written cancellation).
Members also enjoy these exciting benefits: 15% case discount on current releases, 10% bottle discount, and admission to exclusive wine club events.
If you would like to become a member please contact us at the winery.
“Both of these outstanding vineyards contributed equally to this older (25+ years) vines Cabernet. It’s sleek and sappy, and it serves up a full spectrum of berries as only Washington Cab can. Young, primary fruit flavors carry a lot of snap at the moment, and the bright acids suggest that a few more years in bottle will continue to improve this impressive effort.” P.G.
Great News! Our tasting room is now open thursday through monday from 10 unitl 5.
We are pleased to announce that our first Estate Merlot is now available. The total production was only 160 cases, so get it now before its gone.
GOLD
2003 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
SILVER
2003 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Our “VELIDA”, Estate Viognier is available for purchase. It is blowing out the door. It has a velvety mouth feel and is a great alternative to Chardonnay.
The Jefferson Cup is a country wide invitational competition. There were 540 wine competing and Gamache Vintners 2003 Estate Syrah was awarded the GREAT AMERICAN WINE award and the 2003 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon the upper award of Jefferson Cup Honoree. Recognizing this wine “as an example of a wine with extrodinary character, personality and integrity, represenative not only of it’s region and variety in the American marketplace, but of wine throughout the world”.
Best of Washington Wines
2003 Gamache Vintners Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2003 Gamache Vintners Estate Cabrenet Sauvignon
2003 Estate Syrah
See article in the February issue of CEO Magazine for full details
Gamache Vintners 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2003 Estate Syrah received GOLD ratings in Wine Press Northwests Platinum Tasting.
More praise from the Seattle Times Wine Adviser, Paul Gregutt:
...the Gamache brothers have followed up their outstanding 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (the winery’s first release) with a blockbuster 2003 syrah, again from the estate vineyards… I expect great things from Gamache in the future.
Read the entire article
Gamache Vintners was listed among the Seattle Times Wine Adivser’s list of rising stars.