Today we share the wines of Dan and Diane Gainey. Their family winery is located in the Santa Ynez Valley and the story began when Dan’s grandfather and father, Dan J. Gainey, acquired 1,800 acres of undeveloped land. Named the ‘Home Ranch’ they ran cattle and horses while growing 600 acres of fruit, vegetables, flowers and hay. In 1984, Dan’s father converted 50 acres to grapevines and Gainey Vineyard was born.
Now in its fourth generation, Gainey wines have been producing some outstanding new releases. I love the 2024 Evan’s Ranch ‘Caitlin’s’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is viscous and delicious with excellent salty tones.. Learn more about this great Santa Barbara County house at https://gaineyvineyard.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Gainey
2024 Gainey Sauvignon Blanc- Th 2024 Sauvignon Blanc delivers citrus blossom, peach and lychee on the nose. The palate is neatly-textured with excellent viscosity and underlying verve. The salty minerality of the wine is really great as this is best enjoyed on the slightly warmer side to take in the beautiful texture. Drink 2026-2031- 92
2025 Gainey ‘Limited Selection’ Sauvignon Gris- This 2025 Sauvignon Gris has 15% Sauvignon Blanc blended in. Sourced from the Gainey Home Ranch, this delivers dense melon and green papaya notes on the palate, with hints of fig and Pink Lady apple. Nicely-textured, enjoy now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2024 Gainey Chardonnay- Mainly sourced from the Esperanza Vineyard, the 2024 Chardonnay is rich and dense on the tongue with a refined mouthfeel. Loads of melon and tropical fruits parade with sea salt dusted mixed nuts on the palate. Really good, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2024 Evan’s Ranch ‘Caitlin’s’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Caitlin’s’ Chardonnay comes form this site which was bought by Gainey in 1997. Golden in the glass, this is very smooth throughout the drinking experience. Wet rock, nectarine skin, papaya and shades of Meyer lemon zest all parade on the palate, with salty and sandy nuances. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2023 Evan’s Ranch ‘Lone Oak’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Lone Oak’ Pinot Noir utilizes clone 114 and 2A from their estate vineyard. Red currants and red rose petals fill the nose alongside hints of wintergreen. The palate is well-balanced and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel and loads of texture. This is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2024 Gainey Syrah- Coming from the Santa Rita Hills AVA, the 2024 Gainey Syrah opens with a great bouquet of cardamom, black cherry compote and suggestions of rosemary. The palate is lush with good tension and richness. Drink 2026-2032- 91
2023 Evan’s Ranch ‘Lone Oak’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Lone Oak’ Syrah comes off salty and savory. Black plum and Hoisin sauce combine with creosote notes and fresh herbs on the palate. Concentrated and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2023 Evan’s Ranch ‘Las Brisas’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Las Brias’ Syrah combines four clonal selections. This offers rich black and blue fruits on the palate, with a reined mouthfeel and great salt/stony accents. Medium to full-bodied, with a scorched earthy edge, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2023 Gainey Merlot- The 2023 Gainey Merlot is soft and approachable on the mouth. Salty minerals combine with bright black fruits, tobacco leaf and stony accents on the palate. Showing a great combination of texture and freshness, enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2034- 92
2023 Gainey Cabernet Franc- This 2023 Cabernet Franc from the Santa Rita Hills is an outstanding bottling that is both viscous and mineral-laden. This shows serious balance between richness and tension, as salty minerals combine with bright red and dark fruits, with hints of chocolate cake and wafts of green herbs. This is a seriously good wine. Drink 2026-2036- 93
2023 Gainey ‘Ines’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Ines’ is a blend of near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 23% Cabernet Franc all sourced from the Patrick’s Vineyard. This is a deep, concentrated and well-structured wine with stony minerals that combine with dense dark fruits, sweet pipe tobacco and salted molten chocolate. Drink 2026-2038- 94
2023 Gainey ‘Patrick’s Vineyard Selection’ Red Wine- The 2023 Gainey ‘Patrick’s Vineyard Selection’ Red Wine is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) from their estate vineyard. Powerful and concentrated, this has a dusting of white pepper alongside heady boysenberry and black cherry fruits. With more air there are cigar box, anise and cassis nuances that combine with the rich mouthfeel on the palate. Sensational now, watch this evolve now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2039- 94