2008 Trecini Cellars Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc

Mission Codename: Live and Let Live, Part Two

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Trecini Cellars and return with the perfect Summertime refresher

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Trecini Cellars

Wine Subject: 2008 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker: Dan Barwick

Backgrounder: Sauvignon Blanc originally hails from the Loire Valley in France, but has found new homes in other parts of France (Bordeaux, where it is blended with Sauternes); New Zealand, and specifically the Marlborough region as well as California. It is generally dry and crisp with flavors of apples, pears and tropical fruit and tends to have bright acidity that lends itself well to pairing with spicy foods.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Gorgeous pale straw yellow in color with perfectly clear and consistent color, right out to the edges of the glass. The springy surface of this wine settles very quickly after a good swirl, leaving behind tightly-packed, skinny legs that emerge quickly before streaking down the glass

Smell – Medium intensity on the nose with aromas of soft dried hay, soft grass, fresh citrus, subtle herbs and soft minerals. These aromas are balanced atop tropical notes of pineapple and starfruit, with a soft minerality

Feel – Soft and round on the entry, then crisp and slightly very slightly dry, with soft tannins that emerge with a slight minerality that evolves slowly in the mouth

Taste – Bright, crisp and fresh with flavors that closely echo the nose. These flavors are also accompanied by distinct soft lime, acacia, pineapple and subtle pink grapefruit

Finish – Clean and crisply fresh, the finish is soft and mouth-watering, with flavors that fall off slowly from tart to sweet as an easy minerality is revealed

Conclusion – This delicious and easy-drinking 2008 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc is a delightful wine that is a pleasure to drink. With a few weeks of Summertime remaining, now is the perfect time for this tasty and budget-minded wine. We love wines from our friends at Trecini Cellars. Always, they are refined, balanced and a very tasty companion to a great meal. If you are looking for light-hearted but interesting white, this wine comes highly recommended. We enjoyed ours with grilled chicken and baked red potatoes. Delicious!

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER_

SUBJECT: Dan Barwick, Winemaker

PLACE OF BIRTH: Dover, England

WINE EDUCATION: Hands in vineyards and wineries on 4 continents, basic chemistry at Davis

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Sonoma County vineyard and winemaking consultant

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Work with the vineyards, and get to know them, fine tune where necessary – low alcohols where possible, high acid

SIGNATURE VARIETAL: Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon

WINEMAKER QUOTE: ”Wine should be enjoyed with food and friends and not judged in flights of 40”

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Dan. We are thrilled to be showing your 2008 Trecini Sauvignon Blanc today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

DAN: My pleasure, Red!

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

DAN: I have worked with food since I was 16, I love food, and wine makes almost everything taste better.

RED: And where did you learn the most about winemaking?

DAN: In the vineyard and in wineries throughout the world, tasting a lot of different wines and asking a lot of questions and listening

RED: What is your winemaking style or philosophy?

DAN: Food friendly, lower alcohol. Sometimes the best Peach of the year is that first one you taste, where it’s just ripe enough, the fruit is fresh and piercing the texture is almost luscious and definitely mouthwatering. The same theory can follow with the time you harvest grapes – Riper is just not better. The riper the grape the less varietal distinctiveness it will have, and even less sense of place, ‘Terroir’.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

DAN: Burgundy, Alsace, South Australia.

RED: How long have you been making wine?

DAN: 19 harvests

RED: Who do you make wine for?

DAN: Myself and people who love to enjoy eating and drinking.

RED: Tell me, what makes the Russian River Valley so special?

DAN: Russian River, and all of Sonoma County. Massive diversity in soils, climates, vineyard techniques and its people.

RED: What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone that is considering a career as a winemaker?

DAN: The more you Care – the better the wine.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

DAN: Getting ready for 2009 harvest

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today

DAN: The Trecini Sauvignon Blanc is crisp, delicious, flavorful, complex and it’s an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

DAN: Fish, chicken, vegetables, or even pasta with clams.

RED: Please share one thing about yourself that few people know

DAN: My real name is Jonathan

RED: Interesting. We’ll have to explore that at a later date! What is your favorite ‘everyday’ or table wine?

DAN: RRV Sauvignon Blanc

RED: How would you recommend that people approach your wines, or wine in general?

DAN: Complexity is my thing so with each sip and glass you have the wine evolves and different aromas, flavors, textures greet you. And with food all of this is amplified. Life is good

RED: If you could choose any one wine to drink (regardless of price or availability), what would it be?

DAN: Burgundy

RED: What is the one question that I should have asked you, and what is your answer to that question?

DAN:Favorite food – Prosciutto, for flavor and texture

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and about your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

DAN: You are welcome!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Trecini Cellars’ Vicini Vineyard can be seen in this satellite photo.