2020 Gossamer Cellars Negroamaro – A Radiant Color and Delicious Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Gossamer Cellars located in Murphys, California is one of the gems of the Sierra Foothills. Their tasting room is located at 419 Main Street. Gary and Sue Grant are the owners, with Gary making the wine and Sue graciously hosting guests in their quaint tasting room.
The etymology of the word gossamer originated in Middle English as “goose summer” or “gos mer”, late summer warmth, when the geese where in prime condition to be eaten! Over time it has morphed into an adjective “gossamer” meaning “light, delicate or tenuous” like butterfly wings. On the bottle of Gossamer Cellars, a delicate butterfly or fairy is depicted with butterfly wings. To this end, it is appropriately named. Gary Grant purposely “flitters from varietal to varietal” making unique, high quality and lesser-known wines for those open to experiencing the vast world of wine!
Their “motto” written in chalk in their very tiny tasting room sums up their goal and lifestyle “Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you” (Anonymous). See the complete story at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2019/01/18/gossamer-cellars-a-unique-find/ .
This is about one of their wines called Negroamaro that I pulled from the cellar for dinner. Grown in the Sierra Foothills, this grape is dark-skinned and best known in the Puglia region in Southern Italy (the heel of the boot). The name Negroamaro translates “dark, bitter”. The typical characteristics are red cherry, forest fruits, licorice and tobacco. With aging (5-10 years) the wine can develop aromas of black pepper, prunes, earthy notes, blackberry and dried thyme.
The Wine “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine on the eyes was uniquely beautiful, radiant and with stark clarity. While appearing “light in color”, don’t let it fool you as it packed a punch! It possessed a purple and crimson hue and was medium to medium heavy viscosity. Aromas of plum and dark cherry were prevalent. In the mouth, besides dark fruits, black licorice and tobacco, a tinge of green forester floor was present along with an almost bitter rhubarb but with food, a latent slight sweetness of the plum & cherry came forward. The finish was dry with both medium to medium-heavy tannins and acidity. This was an “old world” flavor that left you savoring each sip. This is a hearty wine to be enjoyed with food as opposed to a sipping wine. Price is $30 and you can be transported back to Italy! Only 60 cases were produced. The wine was bin fermented and aged in 25% new French oak barrels for 30 months. The grapes come from a vineyard in Placerville, California. Approximately only .001% of California grapes harvested are Negroamaro!
The wine was decanted for two hours before serving and really helped opening it up and flushed out some of the typical “bitterness” of this varietal. Their 2019 Negroamaro wine at the 42nd Sierra Foothills Wine Competition won Double Gold and this is surely is destined to win again!
The Food and Wine Pairing “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Pulled from the cellar last night to have with dinner as the bold and acidity of the wine allows it to cut through the fats, oils and richness of the Bolognese sauce. The sauce started at 9 am and left simmering all day on the stove. Ingredients included lean hamburger, ground Italian pork, bacon, chopped celery, chopped carrot, minced garlic cloves, olive oil, chopped onions, chopped fresh thyme, red wine, bay leaves, beef broth and tomato puree. Served with thin spaghetti pasta and topped with fresh Parmesan cheese. Accompanied by a holiday honey crisp salad with thinly sliced apples, Romaine lettuce, candied pecans, dried cranberries and blue cheese with a fresh apple cider vinaigrette dressing.
The good news, it was an exquisite food and wine pairing placing you back in Italy.
This wine will make my annual Best Wines Tasting during the year. The list is published mid-December yearly with categories under $50 and $51 and above per bottle.
Sláinte,
Michael