It looks like for 1960 Cabernet Mario harvested 4.4 tons at $130/ton from Bennion/Ridge on 10/10 and another 3.3 tons from the Gaspar vineyard in Saratoga at 135/ton.
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To even say a ‘60 Cab is immediately impactful, is really something.
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But, he was still around as a mentor, and occasionally made a wine, and they occasionally released a Gemello labeled wine. I have an '87 Zin using Santa Clara fruit. When I was a wine noob and had purchased the NV 35th Anniversary Cab from K&L, I visited Obester with some friends. I asked who turned out to be Paul Obester if he knew what it was. He told me there was some old guy around there somewhere who could tell me. A moment later Mario was telling me. (It’s a '69/'71 blend.)
Also Martin Ray/Mount Eden Cabernet. When the La Questa Winery shut down, he bought the stock and equipment. Martin Ray came down to Mountain View and tasted through the barrels and bought all the '44. Ray then went to the Rixford property and worked the vineyard and took cuttings to plant his Mount Eden Vineyard. Cuttings from Ray then propagated to William Short and various Saratoga area vineyards, likely including Gaspar and Scott Knight Smith, which Gemello later sourced. Those two were both on Pierce Road. Directly across from Scott Knight Smith was this property owned by Kathryn Kennedy. Surely the Gemello wines were an inspiration to her. I should ask Marty about that.
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Kenny,
There are thankfully many great wines, but few real legends.
I would guess that Francois Audouze was talking about the 1961 Jaboulet-Aine Hermitage, universally considered legendary. The 1960 Gemello is of course not as well known; far smaller production and no distribution. But some wines just go beyond great.
Sarah,
I don’t think we disagree at all about the wine; it’s the complexities and subtleties of language that are kicking in here.
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Thanks, Wes and Matt and everyone, for all the wonderful historical background.
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