Spring 2023 Release

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Dear Friends,

Normally we would be introducing the first wines from the 2020 vintage with this letter. As you all know, the last few years have been anything but “normal” at Trespass Vineyards and for the Napa Valley in general. The fires of 2020 were incredibly close to our vineyard and the long days of smoke rendered our grapes unfit for wine production. We decided this winter would be the perfect time to really dig into our Wine Library and share some of the past favorites with our loyal fans.

Often we are asked about our Library and if there is anything available. Well, now we have an opportunity for you to “Shop the Library”! It may be a little old school, but we strongly suggest you give us a call to see what is available, because it has been changing daily already. (Donny like’s talking with each of you personally anyway!) As a second option, please shoot us an email and we will answer as quickly as possible. We decided not to create a Library order form to include in this mailing as availability is quickly changing, but be assured, there are some real gems. (Again….don’t be surprised if Donny gives you a call in response to your email).

The included order form showcases some of the recent offerings, vintage tasting packs and fun mini-verticals. We have enjoyed tasting through so many our wines lately in preparation for this release, and to better share how they are showing right now. So whether you enjoy a beautifully aged 2005, a balanced 2012 or a young 2019…….there are many choices to add to your cellar. Our vintage tasting packs have been very popular, especially when you haven’t been able to visit and taste our wines during their release. The 2018 Vintage Tasting Pack includes a Cabernet Sauvignon, the Young Vine Cabernet Franc, an Intrigue, Mischief, Rendezvous and an Encroachment Pinot Noir. In the 2019 Vintage Tasting Pack you will find a Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Intrigue, Mayhem, Rendezvous and Encroachment Pinot Noir.

As Donny and I often say to each other, we are so grateful for all the friends we have made along the way, all because of a mutual love of the wines we have the joy of creating from our unique site. That obviously includes all of you!

Cheers!!
Dana & Donny Gallagher

2022 Fall Release

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Happy Harvest!

Ahhh….the life of a farmer, never a dull moment!  And for added interest, Mother Nature just loves to put her special unexpected signature to each vintage.  2022 has given us a lovely growing season here at Trespass Vineyard.  We avoided any adverse spring issues and had a nice fruit set.  Summer could be considered mild as we sailed towards harvest.  Then the calendar turned to September and on went the furnace.

St. Helena experienced over a week of 100+ degree days, two of which topped 117.  We had never seen temperatures like this.  Donny kept the vines hydrated to prevent the grapes from turning to raisins, thank goodness for his micro-management tendencies!  The story ends well with us bringing in the fruit later in the month at just the right time with wonderful ripeness, flavor, acidity and balance.

Enough of the “farmer talk”, let’s switch to wine!!  We have three of our 2019 vintage wines to offer you this fall, as well as the Encroachment 2018 Pinot Noir.  In addition, we have our popular Tasting Pack featuring six of our 2019 wines.  Orders are filled on a first come – first serve basis, so try to reply quickly to secure the wines and quantity you would like. Following are Donny and Kirk’s notes on the wines:

2019 Trespass Cabernet Sauvignon – 130 Cases Produced

Wow, what an incredible wine!! It has a beautiful black color that radiates from the glass. This Cab is nearly heroic in stature! A wonderful, fumy, black fruit and cherry nose wafts right away. Those ripe scents are backed by more complex hints of roasted coffee, blackberry jam, pomegranate and oak spice. This wine walks the tightrope of balance and doesn’t falter. The nose to the palate is nearly seamless in every way. Warmth and viscosity, with very large flavors of dark cherry and anais abound. The tannins show their stature and finesse and are even a touch on the youthful/chewy side, thus, more time in the bottle will yield nicely. Again, the gentle and fruitful notes walk the rope with the complex body and density of this wine right through to the finish. This wine was built to cellar very well. Aged for 22 months in new French oak. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2019 Trespass RENDEZVOUS – 125 Cases Produced

Intense and seductive! We are very excited about this release of our 50-50 co-fermented blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. (Always one of our favorites!) There are layers and layers that are generous and profound with purity of black fruit and exotic expressions. The aromatics are right! Light scorched herbs, barrel toast, black cherry jam, roasted coffee and sweet plumbs. On the palate it is explosive and fills every corner with blackberry and vanilla, soft and round, but with firm tannins. This is a big wine that keeps evolving in the glass as well as on the palate, showing great complexity, Wow! Fermented and aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2019 Trespass Old Vine Zinfandel – 150 Cases Produced

This 119 year old vineyard is producing some of the best Zinfandel grapes in the Napa Valley! We feel lucky that Kirk is able to consistently procure this fruit each year. This classy Zin has a focus on the “pretty” core fruit. We choose to age this wine in 50% new French oak, rather than the traditional American Oak, which we feel supports and brightens seamless red fruits of wild berry, currant, dried cherry and fresh raspberry. On the palate we have plum jam with a touch of clove and Christmas spice. What a nice, elegant Zinfandel, not pushy in the least. Aged 18 months in new and neutral French oak. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2018 Encroachment Pinot Noir, RRV – 175 Cases Produced

There is something magical about Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Something even more magical when it is dry farmed Russian River Valley Pinot Noir! Hailing from the Dutton Widdoes Vineyard in the Green Valley of RRV, these 40-year-old vines have roots drilling down deep to find the water to sustain life. The soils from the ancient sea beds in this area and the thousands of river valley erosions have no better friend to translate this soil makeup than the venerable Pinot Noir. Pinot never lies about where it is from, with a clear message detailing terroir, viticulture, soil and climate to the many details and flavors in the glass. In addition to these old vines from Widdoes is 29% Pinot sourced from the Bacigalupi Vineyard. These grapes from a legendary farming family offer depth of dark fruit and warmth of a plush, velvety mouthfeel. The wine created has focused aromas of strawberry, ripe cherry and hibiscus. The flavors on the palate are ushered in with a tension of acidity supporting strawberry, ginger, and small hints of minty herbs. Aged 15 months in 100% new French Oak, bottled unfiltered and unfined. Enjoy now and it will cellar beautifully!

2019 Vintage Tasting Pack

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Intrigue, Mayhem, Rendezvous & Zinfandel

When you can’t make it out to Napa Valley for a visit, this six bottle collection will give you a chance to try the newest releases, just as if you were at the winery with Donny. This has been a popular gift item as well if you need to fill someone’s stocking!

You can use the enclosed order form or go to our website to place your order. Of course Donny loves a phone call which translates into a good excuse to talk wine! We love hearing your thoughts on the next bottle of Trespass you may have enjoyed, so reach out any time!

Cheers!
Dana & Donny Gallagher

Spring 2022 Release

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Dear Friends,

We have so much to share with you, so many changes going on at the vineyard! Some of you may have seen pictures on our Instagram of the replant project happening that began this spring. This is phase two of a four phase project as we replace the declining vines. The overarching goal was to keep as much of our estate fruit as possible. In essence, we are “flipping” the vineyard along with a slight adjustment in row direction. I will say this phase seems to be the most dramatic so far as we pulled out all the vines on the south east side of the property that surround our barn. Gone are the old Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines and we will replant to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Have no fear, Cabernet Franc lovers…..the vines we planted in 2014 and 2018 with the same Cabernet Franc clone are now producing beautifully!

As we turn our attention to the new releases, the 2019 vintage shows what this valley can do without getting interrupted by fire or extreme drought. The beginning of the growing season was defined by heavy rainfall which gave us some late soil moisture. The long, warm summer saw very few extreme heat events, with foggy mornings setting the stage for some beautiful expressive wines. The relatively mild finish to the season let us get some good hang time to let the fruit develop great structure, bright acidity and soft tannins. Below are Kirk and Donny’s notes on the wines in this release.

2019 Trespass Cabernet Franc – 125 cases

What I love most about Trespass Cabernet Franc is its unwavering expression of site. Wines come from all over, in a multitude of microclimates and terroirs, but when a single varietal is planted on the correct site, the result can be profound. Trespass Cabernet Franc has stolen that secret and shares it with the world. Bold nose of dark red fruits, blueberry and plum with the savories of cedar and hints of earth. The palate relates to even more of the dark fruit and bits of cocoa nib. Varietal character carries nicely throughout the overall sensation of this wine with a nice shadow of Right Bank herbals so typical and welcome to Cabernet Franc. Just 125 cases of this wine produced and while quite young today, I trust that aged correctly this wine will drink superbly to 2039 and beyond. 100% new French Oak for 22 months, bottled Unfiltered and Unfined.

2019 Trespass INTRIGUE – 250 cases

The Intrigue is all about adding elegance to the lineup in 2019. This wine shows impeccable balance and the softer, lighter, and more feminine portrayal of Bordeaux blending. The cepage is comprised of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc. While a bit toned down in muscle and volume, this wine is by no means less complex. The nose is a harmony of red fruit, sweet raspberry, cherry incense, cassis, hints of Christmas spices and warm vanilla bean. The palate speaks entirely of refinement with a gentle handed delivery of polished tannins, restrained extraction, and moderate alcohol. Flavors are lasting from front to back and focused mainly upon cherry tart, red fruit preserves and hard red candies. This wine is the perfect reach when looking for a stylish red that won’t flex and knock your senses. Enjoy now through 2037 and beyond. Aged in 70% new French Oak for 22 months, Bottled Unfiltered and Unfined.

2019 Trespass Mayhem – 100 cases

2019 was certainly a beautiful year and the Mayhem will be one of the standouts in the season’s lineup! Darling dark fruit is the focus of this hearty effort. Weighing in at 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot, this appears an even split on paper, but the overall deep color, presence, power, bold character, and length of this blended red rings true-to-type of a classical, fine Left Bank Bordeaux. The aromatics show depth of layers from top to bottom in the glass. Energetic and fumy black cherry preserves, toasted bread, black fruit, coffee bean and oak vanillin expression. The palate is bold with full, deep flavors of black cherry, brooding cranberry, dried currants, dark spices, and hint of clove. The cacophony of flavors, balanced acidity, firm tannins, and gorgeous center mass of Mayhem is quite remarkable. I truly believe that if cellared correctly, this wine will live nicely on to 2039 and beyond. Aged 22 months in 100% new French Oak, just 87 cases of this wine produced. Bottled Unfiltered and Unfined.

2018 Vintage Tasting Pack

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Intrigue, Mayhem, Mischief 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.

We fulfill our orders on a first come – first serve basis, so please let us know what you might like as soon as possible. Each vintage we also make a small amount of magnums, so don’t hesitate to call on their availability or any older vintage you may want a little more of. Cheers to a beautiful spring for us all!

All the best,
Dana & Donny Gallagher

2021 Fall Release

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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

Spring 2021

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This is time of year we love! Springtime delivers the hope of new beginnings, from the waves of mustard in the valley to budbreak in the vineyard. We can’t wait to welcome our friends back to Napa! We have thoroughly enjoyed the emails and phone calls from so many of you over these past months, just to catch up as we would do with a visit in person!

During the “quiet” year of 2020, we had time to reflect on how fortunate we are to be working with such incredible, talented people. First of all we have our winemaker, Kirk Venge, who is in the top echelon of all winemakers. We began working with Kirk on our 2003 vintage, and have treasured our relationship with him over all these years. We have grown together and learned so much together about the unique terrior of our five acre vineyard. He has always encouraged us to trust in our vision and style of our wines, and we know you love the result as much as we do. The crew he has at his winery is stellar, and allows us to express our creativity.

Donny used to do a large portion of the vineyard work himself, adding in Josh Clark and the Clark Vineyard Management team for the big jobs. Over the past 20 plus years the scale has tipped toward Josh’s crew, but Donny “knows” our vineyard so well he treats it like his garden. Uncompromised attention to detail with the goal of coaxing the best the vines can produce has been his guiding premise, and Josh is the right person to make sure the work gets done.

On to the Spring Releases….The 2018 growing season was far less challenging than the prior years and the resulting wines are sensational! Characterized by dark fruit, they are vibrant and refined at the same time, showing off a deep connection to the land. The following are a collaboration of Kirk and Donny’s thoughts:

2018 Trespass Cabernet Franc – 105 cases

This is the ever-commanding piece de resistance in the Trespass vintage lineup. These vines consistently produce world class fruit in a league of its own. Inky and brooding entry. The look to this dark red wine literally transfixes the eyes. The elevated flavors are complex with an absolute balance to them. There is a vein of purity of fruit from start to finish. The acidity, tannin, oak use and all of the other accoutrement necessary to construct a fine wine is found in harmony with each sip and savor. Summed up, a knockout wine from a knockout vintage. 4% Cabernet Sauvignon was added for roundness. Bottled unfiltered and unfined after 22 months in 80% new French Oak.

2018 Trespass Cabernet Franc “Young Vine” – 50 cases

New to the Trespass lineup is this small treasure. For a little background, there was about ½ acre of space remaining on the property and in need of being planted. Cabernet Franc was a natural choice as it grows just so incredibly well at the vineyard. Planted in 2014, today we know the small planting as Block 7. In 2018 it yielded enough to be its own wine lot. We decided to keep this wine entirely on its own, embrace the youthful side of the noble varietal and share with you the not so subtle differences between five year old vines and twenty-one year old vines by bottling them separately.

This wine covers the entire red fruit spectrum. It shows great elegance and a special sophistication. The mouth has finesse, restrain and balance. The overall presence is persistent, and the feeling builds throughout the midpalate where I find the dark cherry finish. Only 2 barrels produced with mere 2% drops of both Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, for that drop of color and textural support. Bottled after 22 months in 50% new French Oak, bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2018 Trespass Intrigue – 150 cases

Right away this wine begins with a lively, wonderful flush to the nose of red and blue fruits, plum skins, berry basket, cherry cola. A little further into the layers of the nose there are expressions of kalamata olives and an array of savory spices. The Intrigue ’18 is one of the standouts of the vintage with the blend comprised of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc, and 19% Merlot. In addition to a beautiful bouquet, that composition lends itself to incredibly beautiful, inky color and a flood of plush, ripe black fruit. Condensed plum, black cherry, cassis, and blackberry. The texture is wonderfully subtle, refined, and elegant. Aged in 80% new French Oak for 22 months, Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2018 Trespass Mayhem – 50 cases

Mayhem has always revealed itself as a solid connoisseur’s wine. With its moderate sized body, stylish and inviting approach and overall balance, there is nothing missing, nor even a want for more in such a pleasurable, and albeit very drinkable red wine blend. More of the feminine, than the masculine in the Trespass vintage lineup, Mayhem’s aromatics are red, primary fruit based and the mouth shows the delights of chocolate dipped espresso bean, maple bar and a rounding of oak caramels and toasty vanillin. Seamless transition is found throughout this wine. Based on equal parts of Cabernet Franc and Merlot with 2% Cabernet Sauvignon for a touch of structure and added character. Enjoy until 2036 and beyond. Bottled unfiltered and unfined after 22 months in 80% new French Oak.

2018 Trespass Mischief – 200 cases

I love the deep and brooding black fruit aromatics of blackberry and plum reduction enveloped with the subtleties of toffee brittle, dark cacao, oak vanillin, and a dash of clove. Make no mistake, however, when weighing in at 61% Cabernet Franc, 37% Cabernet and 2% Malbec, this wine is no pushover. These varietals are like a pack of hungry wolves in the barrel cellar and can make massively dark, long aged wines with finesse and proper rusticity. The Mischief is a wine of precision from aroma to palate. Poignant and defined dark flavors of berry and chocolates are in an elixir-like ballet around the tongue. The acid and tannin profile are beautifully well balanced and persistent enough to suggest lying this bold red down for several years. Bottled after 22 months in 75% New French Oak, unfiltered and unfined.

2017 Vintage Tasting Pack

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

Our visits were shut down in March of last year with the onset of the pandemic. Therefore we could not see any visitors and show off the 2017’s in person. So we decided to offer a six bottle tasting pack so you could sample the wines that you would have tasted with Donny. We encourage you to use your Coravin (or not!) and enjoy. Don’t hesitate to give us a call and report on your favorites.

We will process orders on a first come, first serve basis so please let us know what you might like as soon as possible. We also made a small amount of magnums, so don’t hesitate to call on their availability. Once again we thank you all for your continued support. Wine definitely unites us and has brought us so many friendships we cherish.

Health and Happiness to you all!
Dana & Donny Gallagher

2020 Fall Release

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Dear Friends,

First and foremost, we can’t tell you how uplifting it was to receive so many calls and emails to check on how we were doing during the horrible fire in our valley last month. It was a humbling time, and we are so happy to let you know we are doing well. We had harvested just over four tons of our Cabernet Sauvignon prior to the Glass fire, but unfortunately the balance of the grapes did not make it through the intense smoke that prevailed for a week. Yet we feel quite fortunate compared to so many in our grape growing community and have been able to check in on others and lend our support in any way we can. Quite frankly, sharing a glass of wine together and listening and sharing our experiences have been a source of comfort to many of us.

This fall we are happy to share five wines for your enjoyment. Winemaker Kirk Venge and “Trouble Maker” Donny have put down their thoughts on the following wines. The 2017 vintage was also a “fire year”, but fortunately all our grapes had been harvested and safely at Kirk’s winery. The overriding flavor profile we found this vintage was a brightness of true varietal characteristics which shown through with wonderful oak accents from our multi-cooper French Oak program.

2017 Trespass Cabernet Sauvignon – 150 cases

The 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is all about captured fruit. There are vintages where we will observe and sense more terroir notes of earth, soil and savory…. Then there are vintages like ’17. We love both for different reasons for the sake of Old World and New World comparison. The nose is packed with dark, jam jar bomb components of blackberry, cherry cola, hint of oak vanillin. But, for all of this fruit this wine is also incredibly deep, dark and I think profoundly complex and one of the best Trespass Cabernets in recent memory. Flavors are full and rich with black fruit, blackberry, black cherry, touch of oak char, anise. There is a dark matter trending here. I love this wine and for me, the hero of the vintage for Trespass. 98% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petite Verdot…100% Killer! Enjoy from today until 2037.

2017 Trespass RENDEZVOUS – 150 cases

When you begin with fruit in the field, vinified together, you can have a profound impact on the wine. It’s a symbiosis connected through activity of togetherness and the kinetics of a yeast cell, the thread that sews these two, the noble Cabernet and Cabernet Franc together. The 2017 Rendezvous begins with deep and primary dark cherry fruit, followed by a hint of briar and sandalwood incense, resin and dust and pine forest after a rain. These savories are the varietals speaking with one another in tandem. The flavors build in intensity as bold dried currant thunders in with that seconds later delay of bright black cherry, touch of anise and clove and pinch of new Taransaud and Darnajou French Oak. It’s a beautiful song of a wine when Cabernet Sauvignon creates harmony with Cabernet Franc upon the onset off of the Estate. Cellared correctly, this wine will drink very well to 2032 or longer.

2017 Trespass Merlot – 50 cases

We don’t offer a 100% Merlot very often as our grapes usually find their way into our blends. There are only a scant 925 Merlot vines planted on our property! However this year we were able to carve out a few cases to enjoy and share! This is a big Merlot with a heady nose of gorgeous black fruit and deep plum. On the pallet you will enjoy plush tannins and flavors of plum and blackberry. What a sultry Merlot and it will drink well for a decade!

2017 Trespass Zinfandel – 150 cases

Sourcing century vines, 100 years plus in age, is a passion. It is a treasure and certainly a privilege to work with these 7 x 7-foot spaced Zinfandel vineyards. The Luvisi Vineyard old vines that we source had its debut back in 1908 farmed by horse and plow. It’s a profound and humble feeling to walk the same walk as vintners so many decades ago. It’s a similar feeling found in an ancient cellar. You can feel their thoughts and hear their words within your own stillness. This Zinfandel begins with black, brambly fruit in every corner of the nose. Ripe fruits of dark plum, cherry preserves, warm blackberry and candied currants. The mouthfeel is plush and follows the nose in the ripe category. The beauty of such deeply rooted vines is how the acid and tannin laces the finish together so eloquently.

Trespass Bits and Pieces – 75 cases

Perhaps the most playful yet of Donny’s inventions. Sitting together at the blending table one late afternoon (becoming early evening), Donny looked long at the wines and muttered something I didn’t think that I heard correctly, “What if we try Zinfandel with Petit Verdot?” I was amazed at the adventure and vinous daring of what I had just heard. I had certainly never tried this mélange before. Donny’s idea, the “Bits and Pieces” from the cellar, went off like fireworks in my head. We had to try it. The result was something of a surprise from another dimension and I hope you enjoy this wine as much as I do. Showy fruit from 66% Zinfandel captures in the front of the pallet. It’s brooding with ripe red fruit. The Petit Verdot varietal comes in with it’s more stern structure and black fruit and topped with violet and tar aromatics. Overall the mouthfeel is plush with the details one would expect from the two varietals. The color is amazing, the phenolics are generous and I am eager to watch this wine age over the course of the next 5 and 10 years. Will it curve to be more of a Zin or will the Petit Verdot remain heroic, as in its nature, and be the driver as this wine meets the future? What’s in a name…you will enjoy the story on the back label!
We hope you enjoy these wines as much as we have enjoyed making them. Orders will be fulfilled as received, so please let us know what you might like as soon as possible. You can also go to our website to order. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 707.963.0804 We so enjoy talking with all of you!

Our best always,
Dana & Donny Gallagher

2020 Spring Release

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Dear Trespass Vineyard Family,

When I sit down to write a release letter, there always seems to be an interesting balance that must be struck. On one hand we want to convey the picture of the vintage we are looking forward to sharing with our friends. On the other hand two and a half years that have transpired since the moment we made the decisive decision to harvest and begin the wine making process, and a lot has happened in the cellar and our vineyard! It is similar to looking through an old yearbook or photo album, fondly remembering the passage of time and choices that move us to the pivotal decisions that lead to (hopefully) very pleasant outcomes and where we are now.

The 2017 vintage focus will definitely be weighted towards the fall and harvest. But let’s take a quick look at how that year began. The year started with rain…..abundant rain! After several years of drought, we all appreciated the grey days as our vineyard soaked up the moisture. The growing season was characterized by warm temperatures punctuated by heat spikes starting in May and continuing now and then throughout the summer. Vegetative growth was hearty and vineyard management was very important. Donny’s almost daily walks through the vineyard became routine as well as conversations with our winemaker Kirk Venge and vineyard manager Josh Clark. Heat spikes throughout the growing season are not uncommon, but as we headed into Labor Day weekend with the fruit approaching maturation, it became a more focused conversation.

Trespass Vineyard, in a “typical” year (is there such a thing in farming???) will harvest in mid-October. The warm summer and repetitive heat spikes accelerated ripeness but this is where Donny and Kirk’s knowledge converged. They watched how September progressed, and made the call to harvest on September 27th and 29th.

Why I paint this back story all leads to the most significant event of the 2017 vintage, the epic fires that tore through our Napa and Sonoma communities beginning on October 8th. While our grapes were safely at the winery beginning the fermentation process, that was not the end of that story. It was literally “all hands on deck” to make sure pump overs at the winery were done and the quality of the wines remained intact. We literally had neighbor winemakers and winery friends, management and cellar professionals (you know who you are!) show up for Donny and Kirk at crazy hours to make sure the work got done during that ten day time span of chaos. Come visit and Donny will be more than happy to elaborate on those days, it was a story to tell for sure and warms our heart as to why we could not be more proud to be a part of this winemaking community.

So here we are….proudly ready to release the first of the 2017 wines. Kirk has once again given us his perspective of the wines we have to offer as follows:

2017 Trespass Cabernet Franc

225 cases produced

Heady, fumy and aromatic! The start to this wine is just profound! This Franc is a standout in the flight, always vintage to vintage, and 2017 in no different. The forward and full nose begins with deep currant, black cherry, cocoa and hints of espresso all layered upon one another. The flavors are lush and populated with cola, black cherry, barrel toast and ample amounts of the espresso bean and chocolate you expect to find in the Trespass Cabernet Franc. As with all Trespass wines, we were quite fortunate to pick pre-fire of ’17. We thank low yields and plenty of St. Helena sunshine for that! Always there to provide a mountain of complexity and flavor, the 2017 Trespass Cabernet Franc is on par to be one of the finest wines we’ve produced over the past 10 years! Aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2017 Trespass INTRIGUE

250 cases produced

Experiencing a glass if the 2017 Intrigue is like lazily pedaling a fat-tire cruiser bicycle downhill along a warm beach…..in the Bahamas. It’s wonderful! This wine puts you right into a fantastic frame of mind, and before you know it, you are ready for your next glass. Possibly our most approachable wine in the Trespass portfolio, the nose begins with sold wafts of warm red cherries, dried plum raspberry reduction and clove. A beautiful red fruit array glides down with the afterthought flavors of barrel vanillin, light coffee and an easy but refined structure. This wine is 100% balance, finesse and enjoyment. I vote this as one of my most approachable wines of 2017 and hope that you appreciate it as well. Aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2017 Trespass MAYHEM

100 cases produced

Mayhem is defined quite simply as “chaos”. However the initial idea behind the name was Donny and I stepping out of the singular varitals from the Trespass Estate to the art and just plain fun of exploring the blending options available. At only 100 cases produced, the Mayhem is the epitome of what the Bordelaise proudly title a Right Bank blend. The Merlot carries the sweet red cheery fruit and flesh to the mid-palate, and the Franc delivers black fruit nuances, weight, gaminess and fine tannins. Blends such as this are wonderful to enjoy early, but more fascinating with age. Aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2017 Trespass MISCHIEF

225 cases produced

This ripe concoctive elixir begins as a gorgeous bouquet in the nose and is just loaded with sweet blackberry, clove, dried cherries and hints of chocolates. The palate is as round as the nose. Sweet oak vanillin greets the palate and flavors dance on the tongue. An exciting mixture of exceptional south Napa vineyards, the soft and lengthy young tannins include spicy black fruit, toffee and caramels. Cellared correctly, I can imagine this wine maturing at 10-13 years or more. Aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to our story, enjoy our wines, and be a part of our circle of friends. Distilled down to its essence, this is why we love what we do! We raise a glass to you and our farming community. We are so blessed to call you family.

With affection,
~ Dana & Donny Gallagher

2019 Fall Release

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Harvest 2019 – Our 20th Vintage!!

Dear Friends,

My, how time flies! We apologize for the later than normal release letter, but what a busy fall it has been for us. The culmination was bringing in the final grapes of the 2019 vintage on October 18th beginning at 3:00am. Our picking crew lit up the vineyard and got to it, completing the work in about four hours. The grapes were at the winery by dawn and the detailed process of sorting began. By the end of the day the juice was “enjoying” a cold soak before fermentation begins. We had a little fun this harvest with our new young Cabernet Franc vines. We took a light crop and made a Rose, which we will share with you in the spring. All in all, it has been a wonderful growing season without any issues.

We enjoyed doing a Grand Vertical Tasting of our Cabernet Franc and Rendezvous in September. What a treat it was to revisit the wines and see how they have aged. Donny has often said the “sweet spot” for our wines is about six to nine years old. He wasn’t wrong, but it was delightful to sip the original 2001 Cabernet Franc and others from the early years and taste the flavors that are uniquely an expression of Trespass terroir. During the winter months we hope to add some of our notes to the website. We both wear many hats (actually ALL the hats), so sometimes distractions get in the way of the best laid plans!

On to the fall wine release…..we have four wines to offer, wrapping up the spectacular 2016 vintage. The consensus in the Napa Valley is that this vintage is second only to the amazing 2013’s. The depth of flavors and complexity of these wines are destined to make them a classic, and a cellar favorite.

2016 Trespass Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

270 cases produced

From a classic vintage emerges a classic Cabernet. This wine has a thousand nuances weaving through it. Within the beautiful, dark tangle, I easily find aromas of reduced blueberry, dried plum, graphite, whiffs of vanillin and new French oak. As a baby, this wine benefits from a decant as it really opens with a little extra air and moments resting in the glass. Purity of fruit is the best way to describe this wine. It rides the rails of absolute brightness. The flavors of blackberry, raspberry and red cola delight the pallet. There is roundness to this wine, which gives it a width and approachability that is quite warm and welcoming. A standout, right where it should be in the Trespass lineup. This wine will drink quite well to 2035 and beyond. Aged for 22 months in 70% new French oak, bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2016 Trespass RENDEZVOUS

150 cases produced

This beautiful blend has returned for its 11th vintage, and like an old friend, every encounter picks up where the last left off. Consistency is the keyword to this wine and what a fantastic, showy vintage for this standout red! Beautiful spicy red fruit pushes immediately up the nose with blackberry, ripe black cherries, hint of barrel toast and grilled bread, vanilla wax and that aromatic energy that only Cabernet Franc lends to the wines blended to it. Pushy with black berry, dried currants, plum fresh acidity and flavorful, chewy tannins. The co-fermented blend has plenty of muscle and we can’t wait to see how it develops after 5, 10 and 15 years of cellaring! Aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak, bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2016 Trespass Old Vine Zinfandel

125 cases produced

As winemaker Kirk Venge says, old vine Zinfandel has a very welcome place in his heart. “These vines are soldiers that have endured so many seasons, it’s nearly countless. We depend on these vineyards for their pure varietal character, depth and consistency. The Luvisi Vineyard, where the grapes for this wine originate, is perhaps the oldest vineyard I have the pleasure of working with.” This is nothing short of a rich wine with lovely red fruit layers from start of the nose to the black fruit flavors as the finish tapers off. The flavors are rich and ripe with a brambly strawberry preserves that carries throughout. Balance is found with bright, prominent acidity and tannin texture. It’s beautiful to see old vine Zin respected and made in this fashion. Our barrel regime is a bit different as we age in 50% new French oak with the balance in neutral barrels, rather than the conventional American oak. The subtle nuance it gives to this fruit is truly delicious! Aged for 17 months and bottled unfined, unfiltered.

2016 Trespass Petite Verlot

50 cases produced

What on earth is Petite Verlot? A sensational Bordeaux mélange is what! While blending Merlot and Petit Verdot has been in practice in Bordeaux throughout its history, in the Napa Valley it is far less common. Donny knocked it out of the park suggesting combining these two reds at one of our typical blending sessions one afternoon. These two varitals are quite different in shape and size but alas, they complement each other especially well. The dark and inky color shines through from the Petit Verdot. The massive nose is a fine bouquet of the two, violets from the Verdot and sweet red fruit from Merlot. The flavors take off with warm, ripe and smooth black fruit flooding the bottom of the palate. The flavors are long and stretch to a point where the underlying power of Petit Verdot out pace Merlot and give the wine backbone, youthful structure and a quite lengthy finish. Only two barrels of this wine were produced, one new French oak and one neutral barrel. Aged for 22 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2016 Trespass Merlot

25 cases produced – A “No Limits” Exclusive

This lively Merlot has aromatics packed full of ripe blue fruit that enters the nose very seductively! The intoxicating mixture, once it enters the mouth, is nothing short of fantastic. The oak, clove, cinnamon and cardamom spices all intermingle to create a scene from a bakery during the winter holiday season. Cinnamon toast and rolls, allspice and anise. It’s all in there and shouts Merlot! Always a treasure when we bottle some of these grapes on their own, so grab a few bottles quickly. Aged for 22 months in a new French oak barrel, then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

We will enjoy the lovely fall weather ahead…..the warm afternoons, long shadows and vibrant colors of the vineyards. The vines have worked hard and can now rest, and we couldn’t be more excited about this 20th vintage! Thank you all for enjoying the result of the dedicated farming and vintner life we love and we are flattered that we get to be a part of your wine enjoyment.

Cheers to all,
~ Dana & Donny Gallagher

2019 Spring Release

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Dear Friends,

Beginning a new growing season always brings a sense of excitement and a long “to do” list. This year marks the 20th harvest we will have for Trespass Vineyard. The time has certainly flown by and we still love being farmers and winemakers. What a special way to connect with the world on so many levels. As I write this letter, our vineyard is quietly about to burst forth after a very wet, cool winter. We pruned the vineyard a little later than usual because of the rains, so that always delays budbreak. This doesn’t necessarily delay harvest in the fall as so many variables come into play over the growing season as a whole.

When we look back to the beginning of this project, our original idea was one Bordeaux blend wine from the three grape varietals we grow on our five acres. However, with that very first vintage in 2000, we decided to bottle both a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and a 100% Cabernet Franc instead. (The Merlot wasn’t yet ready to play!) That one decision to focus on the individual varietals first set a course for us from that point forward and helped put Trespass Vineyard on the list of exceptional small producers staying true to their terrior! We couldn’t be more flattered to be part of that group.

The spring release is Cabernet Franc time!! Following are Donny and Kirk’s notes about the wines, all of which have our beloved varietal included in their blend. Available to order now on a first come, first serve basis.

2016 Trespass Cabernet Franc

125 cases produced

A lofty wine with big aspirations, the 2016 Cabernet Franc is built for the long haul. A red berry finesse along with cherry, tobacco and sandalwood permeates the nose with what one expects from this varietal, but with a tannic structure and phenolic complexity that will carry it for years to come. Brooding fleshy fruit on the mid palate with a creamy raspberry, smooth and lingering on the finish. This varietal does so well at the Trespass Estate site, I always wish for more! It’s a winery favorite every year and a cellar library favorite at home. 100% Cabernet Franc aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak and bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2016 Trespass MAYHEM

125 cases produced

A beautiful blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot, this is a very sensory diverse Right Bank blend. It leads with spice and dried currants with a smooth yet lavish mouthfeel. A powdery cherry sweet tart with a touch of cinnamon with grilled meats. What a beautiful and interesting wine, full of enjoyment and only five barrels produced! Some time given to this wine will certainly add to the complexity, but even now it is drinking beautifully. Aged for 22 months in 75% new French Oak, bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2016 Trespass INTRIGUE

75 cases produced

In a slight departure from our usual Intrigue blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, we have gone rogue with this vintage – a more typical Bordeaux blend. One third each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this wine is wild, powerful and exciting with youthful granular tannins and muscle! The ripeness has an awesome and understated power to it. The nose is focused and shows outward clove cooking spices and on the palate, hints of espresso roast and dark brownie chocolate. A deep, rich, savory and fun wine for sure that should stretch for many years to come! A smaller production this year with on 75 cases made. Aged in 75% new French oak, bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2016 Trespass MISCHIEF

125 cases produced

Donny just can’t resist getting his hands on some great fruit and blending in the barrel stacks! This Bordeaux blend is a direct cousin to our Rendezvous with 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, but sourced from two other well respected vineyards. The Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon and Sugarloaf Franc from southeastern Napa Valley work beautifully together to create this wine. Opening with dark red fruit, deep black cheery and blackberry preserves! This wine hangs on the balance of fantastically playful and on a more serious side, it has enormous aromatics as an array of pleasure wafts from the glass. With years to build on, this wine will become more savory with some olive notes that will eventually make their way in and hence refine the wine in an incredible way! Aged for 22 months in 75% new French oak and bottled unfined, unfiltered.

Please feel free to reach out to us anytime, we truly love hearing from all of you! We have recently received emails about how our older wines are being enjoyed and it means so much to us (and usually a trip deep into the cellar to try a bottle ourselves!) One collector told us how beautifully our 2003 Cabernet Franc was drinking which has prompted the idea of a grand library tasting later this summer. Watch our website for our reviews on each vintage later in the year.

We raise a glass to all of you and a wonderful 20th vintage ahead!

~ Donny and Dana Gallagher

2018 Fall Release

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Dear Trespass Friends,

We have just finished with harvest and the 2018 vintage is happily fermenting at the winery! The vineyard is basking in the golden light of fall, its hard work completed for the year! What a wonderful growing season we have enjoyed. There were no real weather extremes, which allow the fruit to gain beautiful flavors and balance. Now we can reflect a bit and turn our attention to the release of the final wines from the 2015 vintage. We have three wines for you to add to your cellar this fall as well as two favorites from our Spring release if you would like to restock.

One question we often get is what would be the “optimum” aging for our wines to enjoy them at their peak. As you all know, we like to make our wines to be enjoyed shortly after release; however Donny would say that his personal “sweet spot” is when the wines reach six to eight years old. We have been pulling out some older vintages lately to enjoy with friends and so we can speak from experience! During the upcoming winter when activity slows a bit in the vineyard, we plan to set up a more formalized vertical tasting of our wines with our winemaker Kirk Venge, and we will happily report back to you all what our thoughts are and what wines are just singing right now!

Below are the compiled tasting notes from Kirk and Donny. They independently taste the wines and write their thoughts, which we then blend into what you see below! We just can’t get away from that blending metaphor, can we.

2015 Trespass Cabernet Sauvignon

150 cases produced

This is a beautiful expression of what a premium Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon should be! Upon opening this wine you are immediately captivated by the aromas, fresh with blackberry, boysenberry and oak spice. This deep purple wine delivers on the palate as well, bright entry with mature dark wild berry fruit. The finish is complete, with robust tannin that goes on and on. Decant and drink now, or cellar onward toward 15 to 20 years. From a low yielding vintage comes a very high quality wine, just not a lot, so grab some now!
100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak.

2015 Trespass Rendezvous

125 cases produced

Massive, intense and seductive! We are very excited about this release of our 50-50 co-fermented blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. (Always Donny and Kirk’s favorite) There are layers and layers that are generous and profound with purity of black fruit and exotic expressions. The aromatics are right! Light scorched herbs, barrel toast, black cherry jam and sweet plumbs. On the palate it is explosive and fills every corner of the palate with blackberry and vanilla, soft and round, but with firm tannins. This wine keeps evolving in the glass, showing great complexity, Wow! Fermented and aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak.

2015 Trespass Old Vine Zinfandel

150 cases produced

This 115 year old vineyard is producing some of the best Zinfandel grapes in the Napa Valley! We feel lucky to have been able to consistently procure this fruit each year. This classy Zin has a focus on the “pretty” core fruit. The 50% new French oak supports and brightens seamless red fruits of wild berry, currant, dried cherry and fresh raspberry. On the palate we have plum jam with a touch of clove and Christmas spice. Not pushy in the least, this is a very nice elegant Zinfandel.

Please feel free to call us any time if you have questions on these new releases or want to inquire about large format bottles or older vintages. We try to keep a few treasures tucked away! As we rush towards the end of the year and happy gatherings ahead, we wish you all the best and many thanks for letting Trespass be a part of your world. We are so grateful you enjoy what we love creating!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Dana & Donny Gallagher