At Bootleg we pay tribute to the devotion and daring that inspired our forefathers: the winegrowing rogues, who smuggled vine cuttings from renowned French vineyards and replanted them in California to elevate American wine to world class status.
In their spirit, we embrace “unconstrained winemaking,” awarding our winemaker the freedom to create the ultimate expression of each vintage—outside the bounds of a given varietal, appellation, or winemaking tradition. Without rules or expectations comes the opportunity to redefine the game.
Though the recipe may change from year to year, Bootleg’s exuberant, bold and complex blends challenge convention while remaining anchored in celebrated vineyards throughout Napa and Sonoma.
Born and raised in California, during college Gabriel understandably found he preferred California wines for their clean, fruit-forward flavors, supple tannins, and long finishes; components which would soon define his own winemaking style. After graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and Enology, Gabriel worked with winemaking teams at notable wineries such as R.H. Phillips, Napa Wine Company, Hall Wines, and Rack & Riddle before joining Bootleg in 2019. He attributes his successes as a winemaker to skill sets obtained from his diverse experiences and from the hard work and ‘team-first’ values instilled in him by the Marine Corps.
As Bootleg winemaker, Gabriel listens to each lot of grapes and adjusts all facets of the winemaking process to bring out each component and its best expression to the blend. He crafts wines that are complex, enjoyable and not overpowered by any single note.
Bootleg Red Wine Napa County is made from 53% Petite Sirah, 41% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.4% Cabernet Franc, 0.6% Petit Verdot.
The 2019 Bootleg blends Petite Sirah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon blend from several appellations within Napa. The result is a dark red crimson color with aromas of raspberry, black cherry, barrel spice and tobacco and mocha. On the palate the wine is fruit forward with round structured tannins leading to a long finish.
Review:
Moving to a darker expression, the 2019 Bootleg Red Blend pours an inky black hue and offers up aromas of pencil shaving, boysenberry preserve, and sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with full, ripe tannins, it reveals notes of preserved black plum, crushed purple flowers, and turned soil.
-Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points
Freemark Abbey Sycamore Cabernet Sauvignon is made from
Wine Profile: Opaque dark ruby describes the color of this Rutherford wine. Black currant and Boysenberry notes dominate the aroma, with dark chocolate truffle, cocoa powder, Worcestershire sauce, cremini mushrooms and forest floor adding to the complexity. The oak adds the ideal amount of complexity with aromatic cedar, cinnamon and clove. The wine has great depth of black fruit flavor, with a strong expression of sweet black cherry. This full-bodied cabernet sauvignon has resolved tannins yet firm structure, with good acidity. Lovely long finish!
Primary Vineyard: Sycamore Vineyard—Rutherford (100%): Small 24-acre vineyard located about 1.2 miles south of Bosche, right up against the Mayacamas Range, this vineyard has a rich clay loam. Sycamore Vineyard produces small berries reminiscent of mountain fruit berries, with intense extract of color and flavor. The color is very dark early in the fermentation, with flavors of black currant and black berry with a forest floor complexity.
Review:
From a vineyard closer to the Mayacamas Mountains and first made in 1980, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyards checks in as 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It spent 27 months in 66% new French. It offers more black fruits, earth, tobacco, cedar, and gravelly minerality as well as a touch more burly, masculine style on the palate. Nevertheless, it's still beautifully balanced, has considerable elegance, and a great finish.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyards gives up powerful crème de cassis, dark chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and baked plums scents with hints of lavender, camphor, pencil shavings and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with rich, black fruits plus a beautiful perfumed undercurrent, framed by finely grained tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with a mineral lift. 1,989 cases were made.
-Wine Advocate 95 Points
Herbal, with characteristics of peppercorn, cedar and pencil shavings, this beautiful wine is also dusty and mineral-driven, with demure flavors of red and black currant. Full bodied and well structured, it shows an underlying softness that should continue to soften in the cellar. Enjoy best from 2026–2031.
-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points
Burgo Viejo Rioja Reserva is made from 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha & 5% Carignan.
Burgo Viejo Rioja Reserva presents with red ruby color; black pepper and vanilla flavors and some mature black fruit taste too. Well-balanced, well-structured and elegant in mouth displaying some splendid taste of fruit and bouquet too.
Burgo Viejo Reserva Wine vinification has occurred blending different grape varieties to produce an aged wine that will surely keep maturity and fullness from the vineyard until the very moment of uncorking.
VINIFICATION: Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature; aged in American and French oak barrels -50% each- for 18 months.
Enjoy it with red meat and game.