BC Collector - Gagnon-Kennedy Oct 22

TRIALTO | October 22nd 2024

“Explaining terroir and history of Napa Valley through historic vineyards.”

Marc Gagnon is Co-Founder and Winemaker and was formerly the Head Winemaker at Bryant Family Vineyard and worked as the Assistant Winemaker at Screaming Eagle. Michael Kennedy is the other half of the partnership; he served as Wine Director for Eric Ripert in New York and Sommelier at the Ritz Carlton in the Cayman Islands.

This is an exciting new project built on exceptional old vines vineyard material. While Marc has a history of wines with exceptional scores (multiple 100-point scores in his career to date), the Gagnon-Kennedy project is eschewing submitting for press instead focusing on their incredible vineyard sources. Despite this, accolades are starting to add up anyway. The Gagnon-Kennedy 2021 Napa Valley Cuvee was selected to be part of the World’s 50 Best Sommelier Selections.

Together Marc and Michael are exploring the unique terroir and history of Napa Valley through historic vineyards with their wines. They consider their wines to be “off-pendulum” choosing to create wines in a style that best represent these sites - not the current style of the moment.

This is the first time these very compelling wines have been imported into Western Canada.

GAGNON-KENNEDY VINEYARDS Cabernet Sauvignon 'Beckstoffer Georges lll' 2021		$327.64* * Suggested retail price

3 case(s) available

	Product code	357175
	Format	6x750ml
	Listing type	Speculative
	Country	United States
	Regulated designation	American Viticultural Areas (AVA)
	Region	California
	Subregion	Napa, Rutherford
	Varietal(s)	Cabernet Sauvignon 100 %
	Colour	Red
	Closure type	Cork

The 2021 vintage can be classified as a severe drought year in Napa Vallley (and throughout California). With only 7.3" of rain from January to March, bud break was early, and bloom had higher stress than typical - leading to a smaller crop. Currently, I'm drawing comparisons in the cellar to the 2015 vintage, but with much less heat towards the end of the growing season, helping retain freshness and varietal expression and individuality. I'm also finding similarities in the 2013 vinrage, one of the most exceptional vintages in history, and I foresee the 2021 vintage to be known for its structure, precision, and long-term age-ability. -- Marc Gagnon, Winemaker

Cabernet Sauvignon 'Beckstoffer Georges lll' 2021

GAGNON-KENNEDY VINEYARDS Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso 2020		$269.13* * Suggested retail price

3 case(s) available

	Product code	357181
	Format	6x750ml
	Listing type	Speculative
	Country	United States
	Regulated designation	American Viticultural Areas (AVA)
	Region	California
	Varietal(s)	Cabernet Sauvignon 100 %
	Colour	Red
	Closure type	Cork

The essence of the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard’s bright red volcanic soils appeared to be magically carried over into the aromatics and color of the wine during fermentation. However, post elevage and assemblage, the wine transmogrified itself into a cabernet of blue/black complexion. The aromatics are effusive of freshly baked mixed berry pie, cinnamon, allspice, bay leaf, and sweet cacaoa nibs from the 60% new French Oak barrels. On the palate, this wine is possibly the least tannic in the entire portfolio of Cabernets. The pedigree of the Monte Rosso Vineyard, especially considering the difficult growing conditions of the 2020 vintage, is exemplified by the intensity of fruit and electrical minerality. The wine’s extended finish is enveloped with a welcoming intensity of medium-fine tannin.

GAGNON-KENNEDY VINEYARDS Napa Valley Cuvee 2021		$214.53* * Suggested retail price

5 case(s) available

	Product code	357172
	Format	6x750ml
	Listing type	Speculative
	Country	United States
	Regulated designation	American Viticultural Areas (AVA)
	Region	California
	Subregion	Napa, Napa Valley
	Varietal(s)	Cabernet Sauvignon 100 %
	Colour	Red
	Sugar	Dry
	Closure type	Cork

Marc Gagnon and Michael Kennedy approach their Napa Valley Cuvée as a symphony composed from the historic single vineyards they work with across the valley. When looking at the entire Napa Valley appellation, the terroir is wildly diverse - from warm to cool, mountain to valley floor. The goal of this wine is to be a Gagnon-Kennedy interpretation of the valley in totality. It includes their home vineyard, the Caldwell in Coombsville, plus Beckstoffer Georges III in Rutherford, Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper and the Old Federal Block in Oakville, and Samuel Brannan in Calistoga. -- World's Best Sommeliers Selection

About GAGNON-KENNEDY VINEYARDS

Marc Gagnon left his job as director of winemaking at Bryant Family Vineyards in 2018. During dinner, Michael asked Marc what was next? A short time later, they realized that they wanted to work together. They both agreed that they wanted to explore the terroir and history of Napa Valley by making wines only from historic vineyards. Marc began calling his friends in the valley and researching the history of the first vineyards planted.