Guardian Gun Metal Red 05 (03 was Mark Ryan Winery)
winery: Guardian Cellars
Guardian Cellars Gun Metal 05 s a fruit bomb of black cherry, marionberry and plum. A hefty blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine pairs well with food (our personal favorite pairings include: steak, guacamole, pizza, Doritos...) and is delicious on its own. The nose on our 2005 Gun Metal is redolent of ripe black cherry, licorice, vanilla and mocha. This vintage of Gun Metal was aged 20 months in 70% new French Oak. - the winery
Mark Ryan offshoot Guardian Cellars was formed by Jerry Riener and Mark McNeilly, who work together at Mark Ryan Winery.
MORE INFORMATION
2004 Tasting Notes
Previous vintage 2004 Avalon tasting notes: Wow! An intense nose, redolent of cedar, black cherry, persimmon, and red currant introduces this big Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Flavors of black cherry and black currant mingle with a unique jammy note of marionberry and plum. Silky tannins flavored with white pepper and cedar finish the wine. Aged for 30 months in 60% new oak, the lengthy time in barrel shows in the complexity and smooth finish. 58 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 percent Merlot and 12 percent Cabernet Franc, all sourced from Conner Lee Vineyard. Back in stock! (1-10-06)
A September 2005 Avalon Wine Big Reds Club Selection, this wine was a hit with Club Members.Sold out, info here for reference only. Sorry.
Seattle Times said: "Also in his fourth vintage, winemaker Mark Ryan McNeilly has added two new red blends to his lineup. The 2003 Gun Metal Red is lush but not jammy, showing classic herbal-cabernet notes along with bacon and smoke, cedar and plum. There is also a wonderful new 2003 Bad Lands Red blended from Red Mountain syrah and petit verdot. The benchmark Long Haul and Dead Horse reds will be released later this fall. These are clearly the best wines yet from an important new winery. Beautiful packaging also." Paul Gregutt, 10-6-05
