Gellis Family Proprietary Red Napa Valley 2019

Kyle Gellis is the brilliant mind behind Blue Monster and Until the End, one of our favorite cult-worthy releases of the last 5 years. His ability to produce craft cellar-worthy Cabernets and red blends is inspired and we know he is worth our watch. Hailing from South Florida, Kyle Gellis started a successful boutique cigar business at the age of just 18. Warped Cigars, established in 2007 in Miami, is known for producing extremely limited, unique, Cuban cigars. Hand-rolled a few hundred at a time, each cigar is personally blended by Kyle to bring sensory components into harmonious balance. When Kyle first came to Napa Valley, he was seeking agricultural wisdom. Familiar with the farming of tobacco and its importance to the individuality of a cigar, he wondered if grape growing would hold the key to his next venture in life. He quickly discovered the importance of specific farming practices and soil types while gaining a new appreciation for Mother Nature's gifts and wrath. Ultimately, Kyle gravitated to the work in the cellar as opposed to the vineyards, and with this freshly lit fire, the vintner within emerged. The blending skills that led to his early success in the cigar world would translate seamlessly to winemaking in ways he did not imagine. In his own words, "Blending components together to craft an experience for the enjoyment of others is my life's purpose." With such vision and attention to detail, it is no surprise Kyle has become a competitive producer in the wine world. 

Gellis Family Domain is a Proprietary Red Blend created from the fruit of the entirety of Kyle's holdings in the Napa Valley. Each year, he begins by assessing the distinct expressions of the fruit allocated for Blue Monster, Jason Dumont, Until The End, and The Shadow in Red. With no set direction, Kyle is simply guided by expressing the entirety of his family holdings into a single blend; this is where his talents really shine. While the blend will change year-to-year, the mastiff’s share is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, joined with ancillary amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. 

For Kyle, 2019 offered a radiant vintage, not only for the quality of the fruit, but also its source. He was finally granted access to fruit from the famed Abreu Las Posadas Vineyard on Howell Mountain which he highlighted in his most recent vintage of Blue Monster. The 2019 Gellis Family Domain Proprietary Red is composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Merlot. Radiant amounts of black fruit, licorice, white florals, tar, and Asian spices grace the palate. Make no mistake, the structure and tannins are monstrous but restrained by an indestructible silk thread. This is a wine that would age gracefully in your cellar, should you have the patience. If you can’t resist, a healthy 4+ hour decant will certainly do the trick. Only 49 cases were produced.