Gerber Vineyards1889 visitors
| Nestled in its own tranquil valley among the Sierra Foothills at an elevation of 1800 feet are the Gerber Vineyards of Calaveras County. Originally planted in 1989 to 30 acres of Chardonnay, the vineyard thrived on the rocky slopes and it wasn't long before the Gerbers were selling their mountain fruit to the renowned Carneros Creek, Stag's Leap, and Rodney Strong wineries. | Murphys, CA
Phone: (866) 571-0966
Website: http://www.gerbervineyards.com
Appellation: Calaveras County
Tasting Room: Hours are 11:00am-5:00pm Friday-Sunday. Monday-Thursday also available by appointment.
209.736.4766 |
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Merlot
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2002 Laraine Merlot
After the internationally successful 2001 vintage in California, it took a lot of imagination on Mother Nature's part to come up with a season that could be better. But that is exa ... morectly what she did, if you listen to the critics at publications such as 'The Wine Spectator' and 'The Wine Enthusiast'. Although dramatically different in budbreak, flowering, verasion dates and picking times, 2002 may have produced superior vines in the long run. At Gerber Vineyards, it was special in other ways as well. It gave us a chance to start working with varietals such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, which were planted in 1999 and 2000, respectively. You may be asking, "What do Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon have to do with making Merlot?" In this particular case, a lot.
For centuries, Merlot grown in Bordeaux has been blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, and at times with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot as well. Cabernet Sauvignon is used to add structure to the wine, while Cabernet Franc is used to enhance aromas. Petit Verdot added in very small percentages is used to enhance color. With the 2002 Laraine Merlot, we blended 17% Cabernet Sauvignon for strength and 1% Syrah for color
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Syrah
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2003 Laraine Syrah
Our 2003 Laraine Syrah is ready to release! This is our second Syrah release from Gerber Vineyards. Syrah is the most widely planted red varietal in the Rhone region of southern Fr ... moreance and also known as Shiraz in Australia. It grows best in warm to hot regions and produces a wide range of stylish wines which can be rich and syrupy in texture, to wines which are ripe, spicy and delicate.
This young Syrah has the aroma of fresh berries and the characters of toasty oak. In the mouth, the wine is full and rich with flavors of cherries, raspberries, cassis and cinnamon.
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Sangiovese
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2004 Laraine Sangiovese
A number of years ago, Gerber Vineyards began shifting the emphasis of growing Chardonnay to growing red varietals. After comparing our growing season conditions to other parts of ... morethe world, we surmised that although we have cool nights due to our elevation, our warm and sometimes hot summer days may best lend themselves to varietals which are planted in the Mediterranean regions of Europe.
The 2004 Laraine Sangiovese is blended with small quantities of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to increase its color, density and structure. It is a lively wine which will accompany grilled meats and fish. I suggest you chill the wine slightly and enjoy it while cooking.
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Chardonnay
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2005 Laraine Chardonnay
The 2005 Laraine Chardonnay is a rich wine with the aromas of golden delicious apples, tropical fruit and toasty oak. In the mouth, flavors of Bartlett pears, fresh apples and citr ... moreus fruit are enveloped by sweet French oak. A lovely wine in its youth, enjoy this wine as an aperitif, with salads or poultry.
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Updated on September 14, 2007
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