Tag Archive for: 2020 Fall Release

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

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