2021 Fall Release

Dear Friends,

We hope this letter finds you all slowing down and settling into this beautiful fall season! It is with a deep sigh of relief that our harvest is complete with no mischief from Mother Nature. In fact this growing season has been quite the opposite. We have enjoyed a beautiful spring and summer that transitioned smoothly to fall and allowed a slow, even ripening of the grapes. The ongoing drought we have been dealing with did lead to smaller berry size which resulted in deep, concentrated flavors. Not a bad thing! As of the beginning of November, the 2021 vintage was barreled down in the cellar and we could turn our attention to our fall release.

We have five wines to present to you, along with a 2018 version of our very popular Tasting Pack. The following are Donny and Kirk’s thoughts on the wines from this sensational vintage. We will be fulfilling orders as soon as received, so please get your order to us quickly. We continue to produce a limited amount of magnum bottles, so if you are interested, please give us a call.

2018 Trespass Cabernet Sauvignon – 380 cases

2018 was a near perfect vintage. The yields were higher than average but a long season, with plenty of hang time, that leant itself to no issues in ripening. In fact, this is most certainly an elegant vintage. This Cabernet’s lovely aromatics and substantial mid palate carries on toward a dense finish. More of an elegant than pushy vintage, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is framed in the architecture of purity of fruit, finesse, character, balance, and overall poise. The 2018 Trespass Cabernet Sauvignon is every one of these aforementioned pleasantries. Bright red, racy fruit and hard candies fill the nose. The mouth begins with freshly sliced sweet black cherries, bright clove, cassis, and an impeccable balance. Primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon, small, helpful additions of 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec also contribute to this wine. Oak arrives with just the right amount of vanillin incense and structure to carry this 380-case effort. With correct ageing conditions, this wine will be well enjoyed to 2041 and beyond.

2018 Trespass RENDEZVOUS – 210 cases

Rendezvous is always our most anticipated wine of the year and that stems from its unique beginning. The early 50/50 “field blend” combination of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon is like a singing match made in Heaven. After arriving to the winery and carefully whole berry destemmed the fruit is placed in new open-top French Oak barrels for hand plunging during primary fermentation. That is a lot to digest right there. Basically, we are saying is this, every ounce of talent and care is put into making Rendezvous. This year’s offering begins with an all-encompassing collaboration of clove, allspice, cassis and dark stone fruit and backgrounds of oak vanillin, brown toffee, and caramel. The palate is showy with flavors of black cherry, tart currants, rhubarb, and a touch of black licorice we know stems from the Cabernet Franc. It’s a delicious wine through and through and will cellar beautifully. Aged for 22 months in 100% New French Oak, bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2018 Trespass Merlot – 50 cases

Out of the gates the nose is powdered with a rich blackberry fragrance, black fruits, and hints of oak incense. The mouthfeel is decadent. Ripeness in the palate shows in more dense, dark fruits with lasting notes of dark chocolates, caramel chips and mochaccino foam. It’s the content of textural presence that is what I enjoy most about this very small production of a mere two barrels, or just 50 cases. I believe this Merlot will cellar well for 18 years and longer. Aged in 100% new French Oak, 22 months, bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2018 Trespass Petite Verlot – 100 cases

What is this Petite Verlot you ask? Well, let me introduce you to something some of you have never heard of, your new favorite “secret in the cellar.” Weighing in at 20% Petite Verdot, and 80% Merlot, this wine casts out the ethereal magic of blending. The nose is a full force of plum, blackberry jam, and hints of scorched earth and tobacco. It’s the fine point of where popping jam fruit meets mouthwatering savories. The palate plays with more black cherry, clove, cinnamon, and tart currants. This wine has the muscle to match perfectly with cocoa crusted Wagyu or a dark chocolate dessert. Decisions, decisions! The finish on this dark matter beauty lasts well beyond a minute and a half. Enjoying this now I realize just how young it is but will be extremely anxious to watch it unfold in 5 years and again in year 10. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2018 Trespass Old Vine Zinfandel – 150 cases

This is an Old Vine Zin to suit every mood! The nose is blissful and take in the beautifully opaque deep garnet color! There is no denying Old Vine Zinfandels! They can be amazing wines and, in this case, from a vineyard dating back to 1908! The aromatics are a colorful collage of spice box, blackberry jam, dried currant, herbs, and barrel roast. As this wine opens, I find more red stone fruit and barrel vanillin. The palate shows wonderful depth of concentration and certainly a finesse and fine structure to it. The black fruit flavors are well supported by firm acid and tannin but all very balanced. I think this will be a great Zin into the future as well. Sourced 100% from the Luvisi Vineyard in Calistoga, and aged 16 months in French Oak. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2018 Vintage Tasting Pack

Cabernet Franc, Intrigue, Mayhem, Mischief, Cabernet Sauvignon and Rendezvous

When we offered a 2017 Tasting Pack last spring we had no idea what a hit it would be, so we decided to repeat the idea with the 2018’s. While the six bottle collection doesn’t include quite every wine we made this vintage, it is definitely a great representation of our special vineyard site. This has been a popular gift item as well if you need to fill someone’s stocking!

We have really enjoyed visiting with so many of you this past year as you have made your way back to our beautiful Napa Valley. Thank you for your continued support of our wines, it is very meaningful to us both. You may use the included order form or go onto our website to place your order as well. Donny’s favorite method is a good, old fashioned phone call, so feel free to reach out!

All the best,
Dana & Donny Gallagher