2018 Geyserville Ranch Henry’s Blend, Alexander Valley
Three generations farming premium wine grapes across five estate ranches for over four decades, the Trione family produce small lot, hand-crafted wines showcasing the best fruit from our vineyards.
Tasting Notes
The first impression of the 2018 Henry’s Blend is a rich, supple, aromatic mix of red fruits and fall spices. Silky smooth on the palate, this wine has a lingering finish that is seemingly endless.
Retail: $60
Vineyard
Traversing the Mayacamas Mountains to the north and the banks of the Russian River to the south lies our Geyserville Ranch. With 80 acres under vine this site is surrounded by vineyards that have been farmed by multigenerational agricultural families since the mid 1800’s, many of whom continue to produce some of the most sought-after fruit in the valley. The soil is a mix of fine gravel from centuries of erosion combined with clay loam and riverbed silt deposits. Ample sun exposure by day, but at night, the river funnels cool air from the ocean settling over the valley extending ripening to yield elegance and finesse. Certified Sustainable in 2017 (CCSW)
38°73’05.1″N 122°91’28.2″W
Vintage
The 2018 vintage will be one described by poets and songwriters…it was a season of dreams. The harvest began in earnest the second week of September, which is considered normal in most years, but for the past three or four harvests it would seem late. The term “hang-time” gets used a lot in describing harvests, but 2018 sure proved to be the harvest of hang-time. A moderate summer, leading to a moderate fall weather pattern allowed for full flavor development across all varieties.
Winemaking
The grapes were all hand harvested, sorted, and sent directly to small open top fermentation tanks. The fermentations were done using a unique cap irrigation device that brings in air as the free-run wine is being circulated over the cap during the peak of fermentation. This technique ensures the binding of tannins with the color compounds found in the grapes as well as maximizing proper yeast cell health and viability. The blend consists of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. The varieties were fermented and aged separately and blended after 12 months.
Oak: 100% French | Aging: 18 months
