Winter 2017 Releases

2014 Chardonnay - Ritchie Vineyard

This wine comes from one of the older blocks of this vineyard. The original plantings were 100% Barrel fermented in French oak, aged sur lies with battonage (lees stirring) once a month. Full malolactic fermentation took place. The wine was aged 10 months in Barrel.

The vineyard is highly coveted with numerous winemakers sourcing from here. Everyone gets their own dedicated row (or half as the case may be). However, not all Ritchie Vineyard wines are created equal. Throw in personal preferences with at least one winery picking 2 weeks ahead of everyone else and a couple wineries on the other end of the spectrum. Leads to some very diverse wines. We fall somewhere in the middle.

Bright lemon yellow color.  Ripe pear with lemon custard and a hint of mango.  Classic Ritchie profile and aromatics are present.  Very rich, very full opulence balanced by good acidity.  Long, full fruit.  A fine counterpart to its stablemate Kent the Younger.

2014 Chardonnay - Trenton Estate 

From vines planted nearly 50 years ago to what we believe is the Old Wente clone.

Meyer lemon yellow color. Ripe pear, melon and hazelnut aromas. Very full and rich in the mouth In fact quite luxurious. Near perfect acidity. Lingering very long finish.

2014 Pinot Noir - Solas Vineyard

From the steep hillside planting just to the south of our Estate vineyard. A blend of Swan and Calera selections.

Medium ruby color. Potpouri of red fruits and spice. Medium bodied, medium tannins, excellent acidity. Lush and long. This is our first release from this very fine vineyard.

2014 Pinot Noir - Saralee's Vineyard

Usually our prettiest Pinot Noir, redolent of red fruits and floral perfume. This year is more a mix of dark red fruits and spice. In the mouth it is quite full for a Saralee's with a bit more structure than usual. Still pretty, but more serious, which seems to be a 2014 vintage characteristic, including a bit more tannin along with excellent acidity.

2011 Syrah - Trenton Estate

Co-fermented with 5% Viognier.  Aged for 18 months in neutral French oak barrels.

Racy, vibrant, violet laced fruit reminiscent of French plums and licorice with a bit of kid leather. Amazing brightness to the fruit. Mouthwatering acidity brings you back for just one more sip. The depth of tannins combined with the vibrant acidity argue for a long life.

2011 Syrah - Great Oak Vineyard

18 Months in neutral French Oak. 100% Syrah.

It's amazing how different our two syrah vineyards are from each other. They are planted to  the same clone of syrah with the same spacing (3.5'x7', tight by new world standards). And yet, they are so starkly different. 

The Russian River Valley is considered a cool area for growing Syrah. 2011 was an abnormally cool year by our standards. Our Syrah, both here at Trenton Estate and at Great Oak had no problem achieving normal sugar levels, but the extended season led to quite high acidity and full flavor maturity. 

This wine exhibits Exotic dried cherry/plum fruit with aromas of violets and cardamom and licorice. Less bacon and leather than other years. Brilliant acidity, but also rich. Great now, but should be amazing for the next 10-15 years!

2013 Zinfandel - Zeigler Vineyard

Planted in the early 1920s, Zeigler is a tough old vineyard. Cool growing conditions, shallow soil underlaid 

 by a hard pan and the ravages of time result in vines that produce precious few clusters.

Bright and racy, but very full and rich fruit - redder than usual: less blackberry and more raspberry. Hints of black pepper. More reminiscent of old vine zins from Dry Creek than Russian River Valley. Is being Atypical a flaw? Not with this wine!

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