Kamen Estate Wines – Bottle Prize
SONOMA
111 B East Napa St.
tel. (707) 938-7292
www.kamenwines.com
info@kamenwines.com
48 ac – 36,000 bt
PEOPLE
Growing up in a city housing project in the Bronx, Robert Kamen believes everything in life happens for a reason. In 1980 he visited Sonoma County to celebrate the sale of his first screenplay. During the visit he went hiking and discovered some pristine land with breathtaking views. A short while afterwards, he purchased the estate and planted Cabernet Sauvignon. The team includes winemaker Mark Herold and vineyard manager and Sonoma-based biodynamic pioneer Phil Coturri.
VINEYARDS
The estate property is 280 acres, with 48 acres of grapevines. Initially the fruit was sold to premium Sonoma wineries, but after a fire burned half the vineyard in 1996, Robert decided to take that opportunity to replant with different clones and root-stock, with the intention of making his own wines. Kamen produces Bordeaux and Rhône varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache. All are estate grown.
WINES
The winemaker uses some unusual techniques, including sun-drying skins and stems and then adding them back to the fermenting wines, in an effort to add aromatic and textural layers. Fermented in French concrete vessels, the Moon Mountain District Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2017 has a deep golden color, a smooth mouthfeel and flavors of citrus, pineapple, and lychee. The Moon Mountain District Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Everyday wine) is incredibly rich, textured, silky and soft with gorgeous texture and flavors of raspberry, cola, wet earth, and violets. The Moon Mountain District Estate Syrah 2015 is fermented with Viognier skins and sun-dried Syrah stems to add aromatic and textural layers. A beautiful deep purple color, this full-bodied Syrah has voluptuous texture, with notes of cassis, ripe plums, bacon fat, crushed gravel, and toast.
FERTILIZERS compost
PLANT PROTECTION copper and sulfur
WEED CONTROL mechanical, mowing
YEASTS commercial cultured yeasts, spontaneous fermentation
GRAPES 100% estate-grown
CERTIFICATION biodynamic