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The Wines of Tamber Bey |
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We pride ourselves on producing extraordinary wines from estate-grown grapes and carefully sourced Napa Valley fruit. Our portfolio includes distinct single-vineyard, single-varietal wines, including the Deux Chevaux Vineyard Chardonnay, a limited-production Dijon Clone Chardonnay from our Yountville Vineyard; the Deux Chevaux Vineyard Merlot, a 100% Merlot; and our original wine, the Deux Chevaux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. All these wines are now in their 10th vintage. Our Deux Chevaux Vineyard Bordeaux blends put complexity in the bottle, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot blended into our red-label Rabicano, Sabino and Tovero. Our signature Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is Tamber Bey's flagship wine. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon hails from our Oakville Appellation estate vineyard. Brand new to the Tamber Bey portfolio for 2013 are two single-vineyard-designated wines: the 2012 Tench Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and the 2012 Trio Vineyard 'Unoaked' Chardonnay. These new wines will be released in April 2013. |
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NEW
New to the Tamber Bey portfolio is our Sauvignon Blanc from the Tench Vineyard in Oakville. This vineyard sits on the eastern bench of the Oakville Appellation and is characterized by rocky red dirt – qualities we like in a vineyard. We think this is one of the best Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in all of Napa Valley. Winemaker Frederic Delivert developed a unique aging program for this wine, aging 60% of the wine for six months in both Oak and Acacia wood barrels and the other 40% in stainless steel. The use of new Acacia wood barrels respects the elegance of the Sauvignon Blanc fruit, and it brings unique character to the palate. The stainless-steel fermentation and aging contributes a bright fruit component and wonderful crispiness. By blending both lots together, we create a fruity, complex and fresh wine that is delightfully balanced. |
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NEW
As our Chardonnay followers know, I am in love with the Dijon clone, and when grown in Yountville, this clone really comes to life. We have found a small vineyard in the southwest corner of the Yountville Appellation that grows the same Dijon clone that we do in the Deux Chevaux Vineyard. We are using this fruit for an ‘oakless’ Chardonnay by fermenting the juice and then aging it in stainless steel for six months. And because we did not take this wine through malolactic fermentation, it really shows a clean and focused profile. We are very pleased with the brightness of this wine This new release will be a mainstay in our portfolio. |
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10th Release
This is our 10th vintage of this wine, and it gets better every year. Aged in French oak for 17 months, this Chardonnay has complexity and is clean and bright on the palate. 2011 was our latest harvest to date for the Dijon clone block of the Deux Chevaux Vineyard. The extended hang time allowed the fruit to eloquently achieve ripeness, which produced a wine of many layers and complexities. At first glance, there is a vibrant golden hue. Scents of Meyer lemon, Asian pear, tropical notes and spices of the East soar from the glass when swirled. These notes glide effortlessly over a rich and silky mid palate that is buttressed by ample natural acidity. The interaction between richness and verve is the hallmark of this wine, and it displays that incredibly with the interplay of Crème Brule and ripe citrus notes and a long, lingering finish. |
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2012 Rosé
We introduced a Merlot-based Rose' last year and were overwhelmed by the response (it sold out in three months!). To create our Rose' this year, we used red varietals known for their fruitiness: Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and then spiced it up with a little bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. We used the process of “saignee,” or bleeding of our red varietals in tank to obtain the juice. This process minimizes color and extraction. Fermented in stainless steel only, the wine shows a strong red berry profile combined with a good acidity. It's everything you want to find in a Rose'! With only 140 cases made, this wine will not last long. |
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2010 Merlot
Our 100% Merlot represents a fruit-driven wine with aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, baked blackberry pie and strawberries that are shadowed by a hint of meatiness, light white pepper and sweet oak. The taste delivers a similar intensity of fruit, with sweet cherry, pomegranate and raspberry closely followed by notes of cherry pit, dark chocolate powder, a hint of truffle and forest floor. The finish mixes floral and plum notes with cherry pit and Earl Grey tea. Overall, this is a lush wine that is nearly seamless, with unexpected freshness. |
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2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
The visual expression of this wine is immediately apparent in its deep garnet color and purple rim. The nose offers a mix of dark stone fruit intermingled with light notes of leather, earth, beef broth, cacao powder and black licorice. Black currant and black cherry sweetness is followed by notes of cola. The finish provides rich flavors of tobacco leaves, crushed stone and bitter chocolate. This elegant, medium-bodied wine is a classic expression of a valley floor Cabernet Sauvignon
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2010 Rabicano
The 2010 Rabicano introduces itself in vivid, dark ruby color outlined with a pink rim. The floral nose is an expression of red raspberries and strawberries mixed with incense, sage and a hint of clove. The mouth feel is lush and creamy, thanks to the addition of Merlot that tones down the bold structure of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Pomegranate and red currant fruit intermixes with spices and smokiness. The finish delivers notes of graphite and clay. Overall an interesting complexity in a blend of the four Bordeaux varietals.
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2010 Sabino
A Cabernet Franc-based wine that is light garnet in color, with a bright rim that reflects hues of lavender. The nose is fresh floral that opens to black currant, pepper and spices. A creamy attack is followed by a burst of blueberry and black currant flavors mixed with graphite and finishing with sweet vanilla and vanilla custard. The addition of Petit Verdot provides structure to the wine.
SOLD OUT |
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2010 Tovero
This Petit Verdot-based Bordeaux style blend fills the glass with inky garnet—almost eggplant—color to the rim. The nose is smoky and delivers dark fruit laced with warm blackberry pie. This full-bodied wine provides good density. Strong notes of violet and black plum are mixed with graphite, tar and licorice flavors. The tannin structure makes this wine a perfect candidate for aging.
SOLD OUT
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2010 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon
We are really only beginning to see the maturity of this vineyard as it comes into its own. I planted this vineyard in 2000 using 2-year-old vines densely planted to more than 3,000 vines per acre, and it is meticulously farmed by hand. This 2010 vintage is showing amazing color and concentration. The wine has a cassis color with dark purple edge. On the nose is black cherry mixed with wet stone and a lingering scent of cedar. In the mouth, the wine has a full body with velvety texture and silky tannins. Black stone fruits evolve into floral notes, a hint of bitter chocolate and mocha. The minerality we get in the nose is there, too, with crushed stone and a long finish ending on graphite notes. As with prior vintages, this wine has a mile-long finish. While very enjoyable now, thanks to the richness of the fruit and to its acidity level and tannic structure, this wine deserves to be cellared for few years.
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