The French have been rattling on and on for years about their winegrowing concept of “terroir.” Ostensibly, it means a “sense of place;” whereby you gain a sense about the climate, soil, water, air, sun and just about everything else that helps to grow the grapes in a particular region. While I also believe this to be true and the source of the winemaker phrase “winemaking begins in the vineyard,” I’ve been frustrated by what I’ve viewed as the continued inability to truly bottle the terroir of a special vineyard. A white Entre-deux-Mers that tastes slightly salty because it’s next to the sea? Sure, but then a whole lot of other vineyards around the world are near the sea, too!
Well those frustrations can be tossed aside, as Trefethen Family Vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley has finally answered my call for a bottle of true terroir! Their new release, the 2009 Trefethen Oak Knoll District Estate Fallow is a field blend from their Fallow vineyard, right there on the Estate!
This wine is a true field blend, made up of the varietals Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon and other trace elements. It has an almost ghostly quality to it, full of air and sunshine and just makes one think of dancing around in the mustard in a vineyard in Napa right now! They’re releasing this wine to the public today and you can find out more about it in their video below. Cheers!
Fallow from Trefethen Family Vineyards on Vimeo.
Below are some links to other great wines that I’ve had in the past from this family estate. Enjoy!
Trefethen Oak Knoll District Estate Chardonnay 2007
Trefethen Oak Knoll District Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Trefethen Oak Knoll District Library Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Trefethen Oak Knoll District Estate Dry Riesling 2008
Trefethen Family Vineyards Double T Napa Valley Red Wine 2004
Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Trefethen Vineyards Oak Knoll District Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Trefethen Vineyards Oak Knoll District Estate Cabernet Franc Blend 2001
April 3, 2010
I would love to try some wine..in the open wine consortium
December 1, 2011
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