Truchard Vineyards
2011 Carneros Zinfandel
Zinfandel
California: Carneros - Los Carneros (Napa)
Mission Briefing
Always and Forever
We are very pleased, today, to welcome back an old favorite. Truchard Vineyards has long been a sought-after winery by our faithful Wine Spies Operatives. Today’s2006 Napa Valley Carneros Zinfandel is a rich, delicious treat that shows off the terroir of this unique Zinfandel growing region.
With plenty of dark fruit and an elegant mouth feel this wine possesses the sorts of flavors and acidity that characterize a very food-friendly wine. We recommend pairing this great wine with a roasted chicken accompanied by a bevy of delicious winter root vegetables.
Quantities are limited, so be sure to make your decision early, as we will sell out of this ** highly recommended wine** before midnight tonight.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Dark garnet with concentrated color out to the lighter burgundy colored edges of the wine. After giving this pretty wine a swirl, short, wine-stained tears fall slowly down the glass. After the wine has had a chance to breathe, tears form more quickly, higher up on the glass wall before falling swiftly. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Dark and foreboding, with braised plum, smoky black cherry, moist leaves and conifer needles out in front. After the wine opens up, after some swirling, it reveals lovely sweet spice, dried fall leaves and subtle leather. |
| Taste: | Lush and sweet, with sweet stewed plum, black cherry juice, dark tobacco leaf and dried Mission fig taking the lead. Just underneath these the wine takes on an exotic quality with crushed black flowers, slate, subtle dark espresso bean and a hint of complex dried herbs. |
| Finish: | Long and plush with a quick spreading dryness that increases as sweet fruit flavors fade, eventually ushering in a delicate minerality that is accompanied by dried flower petals and a hint of dried herbs. |
| Pairing: | Keeping things local, this would make a great partner to a table full of taco fixings. |
What the Winery Says
Rich aromas of cherry, boysenberry, and cassis; with a hint of cedar, tobacco, and mint. The mouth is filled with ripe jammy flavors of plum, wild berries, and sweet vanilla. Round tannins and firm acidity provide a lengthy finish of spice and red fruits.
There are only 4 acres of Zinfandel planted on the Truchard Estate Vineyard. One acre is in the northern “Highlands” region, and three acres are located at the southern end of the vineyard. The vines range from 13 to 21 years old and grow on steep hillsides composed of volcanic rock and ash. The porous soils and cooler Carneros climate combine to produce an exceptionally intense Zin, with unique fruit and spice components.
Truchard Vineyards produces the only Zin made entirely from Napa Carneros fruit.
- Winemaker
- Anthony Truchard
- Grape Varietal
- Zinfandel
- Vineyard
- Truchard Estate Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley
- Total Production
- 434 cases
About the Winery
Truchard Vineyards was established in 1974, when Tony and Jo Ann Truchard came to the Carneros region of the Napa Valley and purchased a 20 acre parcel of land. They transformed what was an abandoned prune orchard into a vineyard and began selling the fruit to a local winery. Through hard work and dedication they quickly developed a reputation as one of the outstanding vineyards in Carneros. Over the past 31 years the Truchard Estate Vineyard has grown to 400 acres, of which 270 acres are planted. The Truchards now sell grapes to more than 20 premiere Napa Valley wineries.
The Truchard Estate Vineyard is a series of hills and valleys, which contain a variety of soils: clay, shale, sandstone, volcanic rock and ash. The various combinations of terrain, geology, and marine-moderated temperatures provide unique winegrowing conditions. Currently the vineyard grows 10 different grape varieties, making it one of the most diverse estate vineyards in California.
In 1989, the Truchards began making wine for themselves using only their estate-grown fruit. An old barn on the property was converted into a winery; this barn became the symbol for Truchard Vineyards and adorns the top of the wine label. With the addition of a 10,500 square foot wine cave, the winery has become a beautiful, modern facility. The winery makes 11 different wines, producing a total of 16,000 cases per year.
Truchard wines are produced with the vineyard in mind. We always will consider ourselves “a big vineyard and a small winery”. The wines are hand-crafted using traditional winemaking techniques and exemplify the high quality fruit of the Truchard Estate Vineyard. They are truly: “wines with a sense of place”.