Sonoma Valley is quickly becoming California's New Frontier for Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, despite much of the recent recognition and high praise from critics and sommeliers alike, the region, which comprises Sonoma County's southeastern quadrant, is actually home to what are believed to be the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in North America – Monte Rosso Vineyard (planted by Louis M. Martini in 1940). Even still, the work of heritage producers such as Buena Vista (California's oldest operating winery), Gundlach Bundschu, Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood, and Benziger, is really just starting to pay off.

Standing out among my favorite modern producers in Sonoma Valley is Hamel Family Wines (HFW). The family-owned and operated winery is located just off Sonoma Highway 12, at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. Today, HFW bottles wines from four Estate vineyard sites in the Sonoma Valley appellation, with a focus on sustainable farming and responsible stewardship of the land. Each vineyard is treated with organic and biodynamic practices, and the family is even making a push to limit water usage by transitioning to methods of dry farming. So far, 80% of their land is tended to without the use of irrigation.

Hamel Family Ranch is the family's eponymous Estate vineyard and is also the site of their 7,000 square-foot winery. Varietals planted on this site include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel. Similar to the soils at the feet of Napa's mountain ranges, this 124-acre vineyard features complex rocky alluvial runoff mixed iron-rich red clay loam. With Sonoma Mountain situated due west, the Family Ranch is protected from cooler Pacific influences and therefore enjoys warm afternoon temperatures. As a result, wine produced from HFR exhibits a tantalizing richness with structure, depth, and various layers of complexity that range from lush dark fruit to forest floor and earth.

In 2006, founders George Hamel Jr. and Pamela Hamel planted the initial seed that would become Hamel Family Wines when they purchased a home in the town of Kenwood to escape the summertime rigors of the Bay Area. Today, the property, located seven miles northwest of Hamel Family Ranch, is also the site of Tres Palmas – a six-acre Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon Vineyard. As Sonoma Valley is typically cooled from north to south, this vineyard naturally experiences a cooler climate than Hamel Family Ranch, which is ideal for white wine varietals. Fresh, vibrant, and energetic whites are what this site is known to deliver.

As I have enjoyed many tasting experiences with Hamel Family Wines, it is their Nuns Canyon Vineyard bottling that consistently stands out among the rest. Located on the western slope of the Mayacamas Mountains, Nuns Canyon Vineyard is situated within the confines of the Moon Mountain District. This area within the Sonoma Valley is highly regarded for Cabernet, most notably from sites such as Montecillo Vineyard, Hanzell Vineyard, and the original Kistler Vineyard.

Nuns Canyon reaches from 1,300 to 1,700 feet and is defined by steep slopes with soil profiles of red clay loam underlain with gravel and fractured basalt. Western exposure allows this vineyard to receive moderating influence from the coastal gap to keep daytime temperatures warm but not too extreme during the growing season. With much of the heat that amasses daily on the valley floor being pushed up and out by the cool marine layer coming into the valley in the evening, Nuns Canyon sees warmer nighttime temperatures than lower elevation sites. Cabernet Sauvignon from Nuns Canyon is often lush, powerful, sophisticated, and age-worthy. A true rival to the top Mountain Cabernets produced in the neighboring Napa Valley.

It's my absolute pleasure to be able to offer Mayacama Members a lineup of three distinct Hamel Family Wines, each one representing a different character of the premier winegrowing region that is Sonoma Valley. A 3-bottle minimum order is requested, and Hamel Family Wine Club Pricing will be extended to orders of 6-bottles or more.

Thank you for your support!

Cheers!

Carey Vanderborg - Wine Director

2018 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc: $80

Vineyard: Tres Palmas
Blend: 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon

2018 Isthmus Red Wine: $90

Vineyards: 65% Hamel Family Ranch, 35% Nuns Canyon
Blend: 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot

2017 Nuns Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: $160

Vineyard: Nuns Canyon
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Click here for more information about the wine.

10% off on any order of 6 or more bottles | 3 bottle minimum order