The Tasting Panel magazine

December2010

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FAMILY WINERY SERIES Trinchero Napa Valley Introducing the First Releases from the 2008 Vintage Mario Monticelli stands in Mario’s Vineyard, named after the winery’s founder, Mario Trinchero. eleased last month, these four 2008s are the start of winemaker Mario Monticelli’s second vintage for Trinchero’s Single Vineyard Estate program. “The 2007s weren’t easy,” he tells THE TASTING PANEL; “it was my first vintage: Viticulture 101. In 2008 I was able to step back and look at the big picture. But I also thought 2008 was a much more difficult harvest, even though I did a better job. The learning curve was steep the year before.” Installing “V” trellises to create more shading at Mario’s, the home winery vineyard, and understanding the watering needs at Haystack (smaller doses but more frequency) were just some of the changes Monticelli made for the ‘08 releases. R Here are my notes. Trinchero 2008 Central Park West Vineyard Petit Verdot, St. Helena (SRP $50) jumps right into generously ripe—I repeat ripe—plum and rhubarb. Stellar acidity matches the wine’s chalky tannins, but its aromatics are its most attractive attribute. Violets and purple fruit abound. “Soils are deep and fertile on the valley floor,” explains Monticelli. “We get bigger clusters with bigger berries here and the roots go down deep.” 62 / the tasting panel / december 2010

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