It has been about seven years since the WC tasting crew has visited beautiful Trefethen Family Vineyards in the Oak Knoll AVA of Napa Valley. We waited too long!
welcome to Trefethen
some Trefethen vineyards in fall
The winery, on Oak Knoll Avenue between Highway 29 and Silverado Trail, is a magnificently lovely property in the fall. You enter through a handsome set of iron gates then pass down a long sycamore tree-lined drive past numerous vineyards all showing their autumn colors. There is a complex of buildings that you eventually arrive at surrounded by more vineyards and some elegant gardens. We were especially enchanted by the large cork tree that seemed to have grown many feet since our last visit. I always enjoy looking at the unusual antique farm/vineyard equipment that they have littered about the gardens, sort of like you would see modern sculpture at other places.
We couldn’t help but notice little signs here and there that said picnicking was not allowed. That was unfortunate since we brought a wonderful picnic with us. And it seemed a bit mean since the property was so grand and clearly had the room and enough lawn furniture to easily accommodate picnickers. Napa!
orignial Eschol Winery restored by the Trefethen family
sculptural farm equipment at Trefethen
more colorful grapevines at Trefethen
The tasting room and visitors center is housed in the first floor of the historic Eschol winery building that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the only 19th-century, wooden, gravity-flow winery surviving in Napa County in 1988.
Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the winery was decorated with a whole series of dramatic pumpkins and squash both inside and out. The interior that we were able to see was divided into at least three sections: one with the wine tasting area itself, another sort of greeting area and a third that was enclosed which contained numerous barrels for aging wine. I understand that it is possible to arrange a tour, though we didn’t that day.
They offer two kinds of tastings: the Estate and the Reserve. We tried both but drank only reds. There’s a fee for each ($10 for Estate, $25 for Reserve) that does not get waived unless you’re a wine club member.
Double T and 2003 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon
The place was a bit crowded that Saturday afternoon. I think that there were about two or three-dozen visitors but only two staff offering tastings. Hegui and I were both a little cross about the lack of TLC. He likened it to a “factory.” We did like the wine, despite the crowd and flagrant picnic-unfriendliness.
2007 Cabernet Franc: This was a purple red color with a nose of chocolate, coffee and caramel. It had medium body with metallic notes on the fairly flat mid-palate followed by coffee and caramel on the lingering finish.
2006 Merlot: This one was purple black with a nose of tar and hints of green bell pepper. This was full-bodied. The texture was like cashmere with a long finish. It was fruity and really good.
2007 Double T Red Wine: This is a Bordeaux Blend “casual occasion wine” per Trefethen literature. It was deep purple. Hegui found the nose chalky and a little pinot noir barnyard like. This was full-bodied, fruity with some firm tannins. Hegui thought that the tannin was like “baking soda.” It could probably use some aging.
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon: This was deep purple. We noted scorched earth and maybe cedar on the nose. It had flavors of forest floor and dried herbs. It was full bodied with a long finish and supple tannins. Good.
2008 Pinot Noir: This was a brownish red color. Hegui thought that it smelled like South African pinotage with hints of banana leaf. It had medium body with a more full finish that highlighted the red fruit and a robust burst of pepper at the end.
2002 Library Cabernet Sauvignon: This wine was served from magnum. It was a deep red color with a nose of burnt coffee, dried plum and raisin. It had a rich taste that filled the mouth with an explosion of earth and fruit. The finish was very long. Neither of us would object if someone brought us a bottle or two sometime.
Trefethen cabernet and O-K-D Five
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon: This was poured from magnum and was only available in that format. It was deep purple with aromas of forest floor and cedar. This was full bodied but more reserved, structured and taught than the flamboyant 2002. We really liked this one. I purchased a magnum for later.
2007 O-K-D Five: This is 65% petit verdot, 21% malbec with other varieties blended in for the remainder. It was a purple black color with a nose of coffee, tar, tobacco, banana leaf, dirty socks and maybe armpit? It is deliciously good! We thought that it was very mellow and voluptuous. It had some metallic notes and a decent finish.
2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon: This wine was purple black in color. It comes from grapes grown on the hillside and is aged 20 months in French oak. We noted toffee, caramel and tar on the nose. It is full-bodied, supple with a long finish. Good!
do these vines produce red grapes?
what a perfect view from Trefethen!
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I don’t drink wine but I need to go to napa valley. It’s just around the corner AND it’s beautiful!
beautiful shots! looks so crisp and pure and so clean!
Damaris
Napa is a lovely place to visit, especially in the fall while all the leaves are changing. You should make the trip soon if you want to catch it, though it is also extremely nice in the rainy winter. Then it is less crowded with tourists and the grapevines look very dramatic without any leaves–sort of gnarled black things with the mountains in the background. Thanks for your comments.