“A wine of such grace and manners, you want to drink it wearing full Armani-seductive from its bracing aromas of cassis and blackberries, cloves and a hint of roast beef to its rich yet silken fruit flavors so well integrated with oak and soft tannins, it’s like liquid gossamer.” Find out more about Trefethen 2002 Library Selection Cabernet Sauvignon.
Bill Citara, Florida Table, May 10, 2010
The first-ever “Ultimate Wine Challenge“ took place recently in New York City with an all-pro panel of judges tasting nearly 500 wines. Trefethen wines excelled receiving: Excellent, Highly Recommended Finalist
2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon received 93 POINTS and 2007 Chardonnay received 91 POINTS.
2006 Merlot, GOLD plus the prestigious BEST OF CLASS AWARD
Pacific Rim Wine Competition
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon awarded GOLD
Orange County Wine Competition
2005 Trefethen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon “This is nearly perfect, a massive, monumental wine whose sheer power is matched only by its grace and refinement. The flavors of blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate, buttered toast and cedar flood the mouth, tightly controlled by firm tannins and good acidity. Decant for several hours if you open it now, but better to give it 6-10 years in the bottle.”
Wine Enthusiast, April 2010
2005 Trefethen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon “A monumental Cabernet that succeeds on every level. It’s deep, dark and ultrarich, showing massive blackberries, black currants, dark chocolate, violets, minerals and a touch of sweet, smoky oak. Beyond the flavors is the dramatic structure, with fabulously ripe, dense tannins and a bond-dry, long finish. Surely a tremendous wine capable of long-term aging. Try 2012-2018, at least.”
Wine Enthusiast, April 2010
Magnums of this wine are still available. Call the winery to order: 800.556.4847 or try our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon which has already garnered Four Stars from Decanter and won Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
“Searching for the perfect bottle to stretch across your Easter Sunday brunch can be challenging when appeasing to a crowd, while also budgeting to feed them…The usual suspects were in the mix: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir Rosé…then our eyes fixated on the Trefethen Dry Riesling. We asked (Drinks Over Dearborn) owner Kyle McHugh to describe this wine. He replied, “It tastes and feels like Spring.” Sold.
…Bright, fresh, lemony and apple flavors hit our tongue and the wet slate, minerality was just what we hoped for….not all Rieslings are the same. A nice dry Riesling has the perfect place on your wine rack and, perhaps, at Easter brunch.”
Read the complete article.
Chicagoist, Carrie Becker, March 31, 2010
“The intense aroma offered dark cherries, tobacco, anise and mint. On the palate, the texture glowed over the tongue with flavors of dark cherries and spice….”
Frank Sutherland, APP.com, February 17, 2010
“HaLo, from the estate Hillspring Vineyard in Oak Knoll, is named after John and Janet Trefethen’s children, Hailey and Loren. Although 2004 is the current vintage, the 2002 is still opaque and purple, and there are no real signs of age, either visually or on the nose and palate. The wine is rich and round, with notes of stewed blackberry, mocha, clove, and cinnamon and hints of raisin and eucalyptus. It has tons of fruit and almost as much oak; the tannins are sweet and integrated, and the finish long and powerful. Try it now with simply prepared filet mignon or rosemary-crusted rack of lamb, or lay it down for five to 10 years.”
Sommelier Journal, David Glancy, MS, CWE, January 31, 2010
“Trefethen Family Vineyards 2007 Oak Knoll Chardonnay ($30) exhibits aromas of apple, pear, peach, guava, lemon custard, roasted nuts, caramel, and vanilla; a balanced wine with a creamy mouthfeel, bright acidity, and soft texture, finishing with some length. Chardonnay is what established Trefethen as one of the great Napa estates, when their chardonnay earned the title of “Best Chardonnay in the World” at the Gault-Millau Wine Olympics in Paris.”
St. Helena Star, Michael Wangbickler, February 11, 2010
Trefethen 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon wins DOUBLE GOLD at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
San Francisco Chronicle, February 12, 2010
Trefethen’s 2005 HaLo named one of the top ten wines of 2009!
Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, December 2009
Trefethen 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – 89 points – Displays loads of black cherry, black currant, and plum notes, some juicy, medium to full-bodied fruit, and moderate tannin in an unevolved, fresh, lively style that suggests better things to come with additional bottle age. It is all here, but the wine needs 1-2 years of cellaring and should drink well for 15 or more years.
Trefethen 2007 Chardonnay – Displays notes of pear, lemon blossom, hints of honeysuckle and tropical fruit, a subtle use of wood, and a medium-bodied, fleshy mouthfeel. This is a beauty to drink over the next 2-3 years.”
…Also receiving 90 points: Trefethen 2007 Dragon’s Tooth Proprietary Red (not yet released), a blend of Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc – “This is an impressive wine that, just looking at the blend, I would never have thought would be this good, but this wine is definitely outstanding.”
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, December 2009
“A perennial favorite of mine is the chardonnay from Trefethen Vineyards in the Oak Knoll District in the Napa Valley. The 2007 ($30) is taut and bright, with lemon, apple and green pear flavors. Trefethen’s Chardonnays tend to age well, too — something that can’t be said for many California Chardonnays these days.”
Laurie Daniel, Syndicated, November 2009
2005 HāLo “…packed to the rafters with vital curranty varietal fruit tinged with cola nut, toast and vanillin notes in its compelling aromas to start. Full and lush on the palate yet solidly built and altogether delightful for both its complex pieces and its unending flavors, this one will invite you to drink it now but promises to get better and better with a half decade or more of cellaring.”
Charles Olken, August 2009
Hailey Trefethen speaks to Joe Roberts about not just millennials drinking wine but making the wine as well.
Q:What excites you about the future of Trefethen? What are the things you’re proudest of about your family’s wines?
A:While we might be over 40 years old, the thinking and innovation that goes on here on a daily basis is incredibly stimulating. Being 100% estate grown allows us to look at all parts of the process, from farming, to winemaking. We have the opportunity to do more trials and small lots. Whether it be dry farming Cabernet or creating a rock-star Malbec blend, we often have the rest of the valley talking, especially grape growers.
It’s hard not to be proud of award winning world class wines, but it’s actually the people behind it all that I am most proud of. My parents have created an amazing place, spectacular wines, and a team that does it year after year.
Read the full article at 1WineDude.com.
1WineDude, September 2009
94 Points; Two Puffs – 2004 HāLo “From its deep and involving aromas of cassis, vanilla, cocoa and loam to its wonderfully complex and equally deep flavors, this beautifully crafted Cabernet is a wine of ripeness and polish and many faces, each one of which is appealing right now. Almost unnoticed, its sturdy backbone of tannins provides just the right bit of grip at the finish.”
Connoisseurs” Guide to California Wine, August 2009
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon “…aromas of cassis, sweet cream, caramel, green olive and black cherries and it follows on with a hint of plumpness juxtaposed carefully against firming acidity and a fair dollop of latter palate tannin. It has the feel of a wine destined to age long.
Charles Olken, August 2009
