Trione Vineyards & Winery is located on 115 acres in the midst of Russian River Valley one of Sonoma County’s great and storied appellations. From that property they make a handful of small lot wines. Several of them are available nationally. Here’s a look at their new release Sauvignon Blanc.
The Trione 2012 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc was produced using fruit sourced exclusively at their River Road Ranch site. The Sauvignon Blanc vines had 12 years of age on them at the time of harvest. The fruit was hand picked and pressed into stainless steel. A wild yeast strain from South Africa was utilized for fermentation. This offering is 100% varietal. After fermentation aging took place over 4 months in a combination of new (10%) and neutral (90%) oak barrels. Just fewer than 1,500 cases of this Sauvignon Blanc were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $23.
This Sauvignon Blanc leads with an ostentatious and somewhat extravagant nose that has undeniable appeal. Citrus aromas are the most prominent and a bit of grass and some mineral elements are in play as well. The palate is layered with tropical fruits such as guava, papaya and mango. Citrus zest flavors are in play alongside these, as well as loads of spice and a hint of crème fraiche. White pepper, star anise and continued citrus notes fill out the long and somewhat lusty finish. This wine is zippy, crispy and refreshing. The first thing you’ll want to do after you finish a glass of the Trione Sauvignon Blanc is pour yourself another one. At under $25 this wine represents a terrific value.