"The Galleron Branham Rockpile from Sonoma County...screams of brooding mountain fruit." Alan Goldfarb, St. Helena Star
EXCEPTIONAL - "Black raspberry and a faint hint of clove; deep rich fruit in the mouth, but with great balancing acidity so it matches brilliantly with food; a claret-like approach. A great new wine from a new appellation, by Gary Galleron, ex-Grace Family wine maker." Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences
"...Rockpile grapes... tend to produce wines with dark colors, deep and intense flavors and full body without harsh textures...excellent examples to watch for...GALLERON ZINFANDEL ROCKPILE BRANHAM VINEYARD 2000 ($32):...bright with pure raspberry and cherry flavors and cedar accents." Jim Gordon, Wine Country Living
Reviewed in California Grapevine - June / July 2002 -
"Medium-light golden-yellow; attractive, intense, buttery, ripe pear and spiced apple aroma with notes of hazelnut and vanilla; full body; forward, rich, slightly viscous, buttery, ripe tropical fruit flavors with a rounded mouth feel; well balanced and structured. Shows distinctive varietal character with well integrated oak and deserves another year or two of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. Score 90
Reviewed in Wine Enthusiast - Best of the Year 2002
Rating:95 "From a vineyard in Rutherford, this wine expresses the heart and soul of the appellation. Intensely beautiful aromas of black currants, rich, thick and fine tannins, and soft acids are framed in beautiful oak. Soft and gentle in the mouth, but with an athourity that affirms itself on the long, fine finish. Spectacular."
96 Rating,
GOLD MEDAL - MERLOT
"BEST OF CALIFORNIA" &
"BEST OF NAPA VALLEY "
California State Fair Wine Competition - 2002
"The ’99 Galleron ‘ Branham Vineyard’ Zin has a ravishing perfume and flavor of ripe berries, roses, and spice over big, smooth tannin."- Rod Smith, Los Angeles Times
BRONZE MEDAL - California State Fair Wine Competition 2002 - 2000 Rockpile Zinfandel
Reviewed in Wine Enthusiast - July 2001 -
Galleron 1999 Trio Vineyard Chardonnay (Napa Valley); $40. From the smoky, spicy nose through the spicy apple notes in the mouth, this bottling has an intriguing earth and mineral streak from start to finish. Medium-bodied, the wine offers some lemon and mineral tang and a lot of smoky oak on the finish. Rating: 87
Reviewed in The Insiders Wine line - Volume 4, Number 4
"The 1998 Chardonnay, Trio Vineyard, Napa Valley has a bright bouquet of pineapple, pear apple, melon and subtle spicy oak. The flavors of tropical fruits, applaes, cinnamon and butterscotch are rich and flavorful followed by a fruity, creamy finish. Rating: 87"
Reviewed in The Insiders Wine line - Volume 4, Number 4
The 1999 Chenin Blanc, Priest Ranch - Napa Valley has a perfumed nose of apples, pineapple, pear, hazelnut, carnation and toast. The flavors of melon, ripe apple, pear and white pit fruits with a hint of butterscotch are rich and spicy followed by a fruity, creamy finish. Rating: 86.
Reviewed in The Insiders Wine line - Volume 4, Number 4
The 1999 Dry Riesling, Priest Ranch - Napa Valley has a boquet of peach, pear, honeysuckle, cinnamin and vanilla. The flavors of apples, pear, nectarine and a hint of spicy oak are balanced followed by a fruity, expansive finish. Rating: 85.
Reviewed in The Insiders Wine Line - Volume 4, Number 4
"The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, Morisoli Vineyard, Napa Valley has an exotic perfumed boquet of black cherry, black plum, cassis, licorice, coffee, vanilla, violets and cocoa. The flavors of black pit fruits, blackberries, tea, underbrush spice and toasty oak are very concentrated and complex followed by a fruity, expansive finish. Rating:93 "
Reviewed in California Grapevine - August / September 2001 -
"Medium-dark ruby; attractive, intense, cedary, toasty, black cherry fruit aroma with notes of vanilla and black pepper; medium-full to full body; forward, plush, cedary, toasty, tarrish, herbal, blackcherry fruit flavors; hard finish; medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended. [ 88 ]
Reviewed in The Insiders Wine line - Volume 4, Number 4
"The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, Wight Vineyards, Napa Valley has a lush bouquet of black currants, black cherries, blackberries, black plum, mint, coffee and vanilla. The flavors of black fruits, underbrush spice and subtle toasty oak are complex and harmonious followed by a long, fruity, spicy, toasty finish with moderate tannins.Rating:91"
Reviewed in The Insiders Wine line - Volume 4, Number 4
"The 1998 Merlot, Milat Vineyard, Napa Valley has aromas of cherries, layered berries,cocoa, menthol, green olive and black pepper with floral highlights. The flavors od cherries, berries, cassis, spice and licorice are bold with with exceptional depth followed by a fruity, expansive finish. Rating: 90"
Reviewed in The Insiders Wine line - Volume 4, Number 4
"The 1998 Zinfandel, Aves Vineyard, Napa Valley has an exotic boquet of blackberry, bing cherry, raspberry, black pepper, coffee bean and a hint of licorice. The flavors of plums, berries, toast and spice are rich, complex and expansive followed by a fruity, lush finish. Rating: 90"