There is something really special about visiting Trefethen Family Vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley. This great property was originally started by a Scottish Sea Captain McIntyre in 1886. It was originally named Eschol, but in 1968 the Trefethen family purchased the land. The Trefethen family has also helped greatly in getting the Oak Knoll District to be an official recognized appellation.

That is just the beginning of the many wonderful things the Trefethens have done for Napa. In 1988, the Department of the Interior placed Trefethen Family Vineyards on the National Register of historic places. They have done a splendid job of preserving and restoring the original building that was constructed in 1886 for the Eschol Winery.

The members of the Trefethen family are down to earth and approachable. They are much more like every day people and if you should meet one of them, it is a great pleasure to say the least.

Now, how about their wines. Trefethen is a 100% Estate winery. Never once have they purchased fruit from an outside source, and they never intend to. Trefethen produces excellent white wines that are very approachable right away. Their Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots however, are all very cellar worthy wines that require patience before opening. Just to give you an idea of how cellar worthy their wines are; I tasted a 1991 Estate Cabernet of theirs and even at 16 years of age, this wine still had 10+ years of life left in it. For more approachable Trefethen
red wines, their Double T wine is excellent, their Cabernet Francs are outstanding and more approachable as well. Their Pinot Noirs are also a wine that is more approachable, but you can pick up that they are a more cellar worthy Pinot by California Pinot standards.

Here is a review of some of the excellent wines I got to taste at Trefethen:

2005 Estate Viogner - this is a wine with heavy body and clear medium yellow color. Aromoas of melons, floral notes and minerals can be picked up and it tasted of apples and pears. A nice every day wine. Drink now through 2010. -- 85-86 points.

2005 Estate Reisling - a wine with medium/heavy body and a clear light yellow color. It had a wonderful of vanilla, pineapple, blossoms and mango with tastes of pineapple, vanilla, mango and green apples. Drink now to 2010. -- 87-88 points.

2005 Late Harvest Reisling - a medium/dark yellow colored wine with heavy body and a nose of vanilla ice cream, lilac, peach and tastes of apricots, creme brulee, key lime and honeydue. Drink now through 2015. -- 90-91+ points.

2003 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - a wine with a nice purple color and heavy body. It has aromas of cassis, herbs, spices, earth and cedar and tastes of dark fruit, pomegranate, earth and cassis. This wine is tannic and will need some cellar time. Drink from 2011 to 2021+ -- 88-90 points.

2004 Estate Cabernet Franc - this is a wine with a deep ruby red color and heavy body. It has aromas of berry jam, eucalytus, vanilla and violets and tasted of cassis, vanilla and cranberry. This wine is approachable now, but for those who are willing to wait a few years, they will be in for a special treat!
Drink from 2009 to 2015+ -- 89-90+ points

1999 Trefethen Estate Library Wine - this wine still has a dark purple color and heavy body. It has a nose of dried fruits, cloves and nutmeg and tasted of currants, cherries and vanilla. This wine is still tannic and needs some cellaring time. Without a doubt this is a classic Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon that will last past 20 years. Drink from 2010 to 2021+

2002 Trefethen Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - a deep purple colored wine with heavy body. This wine started off so approachable, but then before midway through the wine, the tannins hit you like a sledge hammer. It has aromas of violets, eucalyptus, vanilla and dark fruits and tasted of
dark fruits, currants, tobacco and spices. This wine will be best from 2011 to 2025+ -- 92+ points.

It truly was a pleasure to visit Trefethen Family Vineyards, I can guarentee it will not be my last visit either. If you should happen to visit the Napa Valley area, then make Trefethen one of your designations

Article Source: http://www.california-wine-articles.com

www.trefethenfamilyvineyards.com

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