Spring 2021

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