Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
 
Napa Valley Cabernet Franc

Trespass Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Valley Cabernet Franc are the result of a dedicated collaboration between a husband and wife, a renowned wine maker and one small winery with vineyards that are situated at the base of Spring Mountain in the Saint Helena District (AVA).

Part of a select group of boutique California wineries, with only five acres of wine grapes that are divided between Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, our vineyard has become a true labor of love, with virtually every aspect of vineyard management and wine making being done by hand.  This dedication has allowed us to handcraft wines that reflect the unique character and intensity of the terrior that has garnered critical acclaim for our neighboring vineyards.  The vineyard is located just off Madrona Avenue on the Northwest side of St. Helena.

Beginning with the 2003 vintage, the winemaking duties were taken over by renowned winemaker Nils Venge and his son Kirk.  We feel very fortunate to be working with such knowledgeable, experienced and just darn nice guys!!!

Kirk oversees the day-to-day winemaking at their lovely restored 1891 ghost winery, just outside of St. Helena.  Kirk, along with Nils are involved in every aspect of the winemaking process, from checking on Donny's work in the vineyard, to our ever enjoyable blending sessions, taking care of the wines while they are quietly in the cave and finally bottling the wines to share with you.
 
 
 

We are very excited to announce the release of two new Trespass wines.

The first new wine we have is 2005 Rendezvous.  This is a Cheval Blanc inspired blend of 40% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon which Donny conceived in the cave while doing barrel tastings.  Many of you had a preview of this wine with impromptu blendings in your tasting glass, and have been waiting patiently for the release.  We produced only 200 cases, so it is sure to move quickly.  Our only regret is that we did not make any large formats of this wine!  Please enjoy our winemaker's description of this vintage below.

The second "new" item isn’t really new, just parts of the whole.  Let me explain...  Our vineyards are planted in a true north-south orientation, and over the years we have noticed that the fruit on the morning sunlight side of the vine was ripening differently than the fruit on the side that received the hotter, afternoon sun, especially on the Cabernet Franc vines.  During the summer we would expose the fruit on the morning, or AM, side more by removing some leaves around the fruit zone.  We left the leaves on the afternoon, or PM side to help shade the fruit.

In 2005 we harvested each side separately and kept them separate all through fermentation and aging.  When it came time to create our final "blend" we used a combination of 40% AM juice and 60% PM juice without any other varitals.  So we have a 100% Cabernet Franc wine with an amazing balance and richness we are very excited about.

So what I meant by "parts of the whole" is that in addition to offering you our 2005 Cabernet Franc, we also created a "Blending Box" so you too can experience the fun of creating your own Cabernet Franc blend.  Each wooden Blending Box will contain two bottles each of the "AM," the "PM" and two bottles of our final 2005 Cabernet Franc blend along with a glass pipette and graduated cylinder so you can create your own blend...  Just be sure to take good notes, so that you remember how you did it!!!

Please enjoy our newest wines, and as we have said before, please call us for a visit any time you fine yourself in the valley.  We so enjoy meeting you all and catching up with old friends!
 
 
 

2005 Rendezvous
200 Cases

Wow, what a beauty!  A fine example of what can be accomplished from the Gallagher’s beautiful piece of St. Helena property.

This playful, delicate and finesseful blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon boasts an eager volume of ripe red fruit.  Cherry preserves and vivacious raspberry are the obvious greeters from the glass with dashes of white pepper and oak spices showing through the back of the nose.  On the palate is cherry cola, sweet preserves and bright strawberry, a definite trait of the Merlot.  Supple tannin and just the right amount of acidity carry the finish very nicely.  This wine is ripe and eager with fine purity.

Aged for 23 months in 50% new French Oak.  Bottled unfiltered and unfined on August 29th, 2007.

Kirk Venge
 
 
 

2005 Cabernet Franc
560 Cases

Incredible purity of fruit!  A beautiful garnet color invites your nose to the glass to enjoy vanilla, cola, sweet cherry tobacco, dried currant, cinnamon and allspice aromatics.  I could go on...

New scents continually rose from the glass with the passing moments of this wine opening up.  The palate is ripe with a fine dusting of tannin supporting hard red candy, spots of minerality and dark chocolate.

This Franc shows elegance and balance not always associated with this somewhat difficult varietal.  All too often Cab Francs are dominated by green or under-ripe characteristics.  Trespass possesses a cleaner and riper version from its very shallow and gravely soils.  A terrior perfect for taming such a varietal to unleash its ripe, rice potential.  This wine should improve over the next two years and survive to 10 years or more.

Barrel aged in 50% new French Oak.  Bottled unfiltered and unfined on August 29th, 2007.

Kirk Venge