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- CountryUnited States
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Gellis Family The Shadow in Red Red Blend California 2022
- Vintage2022
- VarietyRed Blend
- AppellationCalifornia
- WinemakerLloyd Matthews
Kyle Gellis is the brilliant mind behind Blue Monster and Until the End, some of our favorite under-the-radar wines of the last five years. Hailing from South Florida, Kyle Gellis started a successful boutique cigar business at just 18. Warped Cigars, established in 2007 in Miami, is known for producing extremely limited, unique Cuban cigars. Hand-rolled a few hundred at a time, Kyle personally blends each cigar to bring sensory components into harmonious balance.
When Kyle first came to Napa Valley, he was seeking agricultural wisdom. Familiar with tobacco farming and its importance to the individuality of a cigar, he wondered if grape growing would hold the key to his next venture in life. He quickly discovered the importance of specific farming practices and soil types while gaining a new appreciation for Mother Nature's gifts and wrath. Ultimately, Kyle gravitated to the work in the cellar instead of the vineyards, and with this freshly lit fire, the vintner within emerged. The blending skills that led to his early success in the cigar world would translate seamlessly to winemaking in ways he did not imagine. He says, "Blending components together to craft an experience for the enjoyment of others is my life's purpose." With such vision and attention to detail, it is no surprise Kyle has become a competitive producer in the wine world.
Putting his blending skills to work, Kyle has crafted a new wine alongside winemaker Lloyd Matthews from two celebrated vineyards and varietals: Las Posadas Cabernet Sauvignon and Las Madres Syrah. The famed Las Posadas Vineyard, stewarded by the inimitable David Abreu, rests at about 2000 feet elevation, and the vineyard sits above the fog line, protected by a forest of fir and pine. Red Aiken soils layer over white tufa, and the rocks that littered the site before David planted it now form walls that define the property. It is a breathtaking site and the source of many award-winning Cabernets. The now-famous Las Madres Vineyard (which we've heard called the To Kalon of Syrah vineyards) in Carneros is owned and farmed by Jean Gadiot and John Painter. The site is bathed in warm California sunshine throughout the growing season, with cooling breezes starting at about 4:30 every afternoon, moderating climactic influence and ensuring that the acidity and high-toned aromatics stay shimmering.
In tasting, Kyle notes, "The nose emanates blue fruits, menthol, gravel, sage, and a touch of charred earth. Awakening the palate is cola, ripe blue and black fruit, wet rock, wild game, and cigar box." The 2022 The Shadow in Red's big, round tannins fill a powerful palate, and it is a wine that shows beautifully after decantation and will benefit from a long rest in your cellar. Only 45 cases produced!
When Kyle first came to Napa Valley, he was seeking agricultural wisdom. Familiar with tobacco farming and its importance to the individuality of a cigar, he wondered if grape growing would hold the key to his next venture in life. He quickly discovered the importance of specific farming practices and soil types while gaining a new appreciation for Mother Nature's gifts and wrath. Ultimately, Kyle gravitated to the work in the cellar instead of the vineyards, and with this freshly lit fire, the vintner within emerged. The blending skills that led to his early success in the cigar world would translate seamlessly to winemaking in ways he did not imagine. He says, "Blending components together to craft an experience for the enjoyment of others is my life's purpose." With such vision and attention to detail, it is no surprise Kyle has become a competitive producer in the wine world.
Putting his blending skills to work, Kyle has crafted a new wine alongside winemaker Lloyd Matthews from two celebrated vineyards and varietals: Las Posadas Cabernet Sauvignon and Las Madres Syrah. The famed Las Posadas Vineyard, stewarded by the inimitable David Abreu, rests at about 2000 feet elevation, and the vineyard sits above the fog line, protected by a forest of fir and pine. Red Aiken soils layer over white tufa, and the rocks that littered the site before David planted it now form walls that define the property. It is a breathtaking site and the source of many award-winning Cabernets. The now-famous Las Madres Vineyard (which we've heard called the To Kalon of Syrah vineyards) in Carneros is owned and farmed by Jean Gadiot and John Painter. The site is bathed in warm California sunshine throughout the growing season, with cooling breezes starting at about 4:30 every afternoon, moderating climactic influence and ensuring that the acidity and high-toned aromatics stay shimmering.
In tasting, Kyle notes, "The nose emanates blue fruits, menthol, gravel, sage, and a touch of charred earth. Awakening the palate is cola, ripe blue and black fruit, wet rock, wild game, and cigar box." The 2022 The Shadow in Red's big, round tannins fill a powerful palate, and it is a wine that shows beautifully after decantation and will benefit from a long rest in your cellar. Only 45 cases produced!
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- CountryUnited States
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