WINTER 2020 - Venge Vineyards
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WINTER 2020
FEBRUARY VENGE VINEYARDS & WINERY
My Crystal Ball
At the end of every year I enjoy peering into my crystal ball with a respond with humility and empathy that will set the tone for our
good, three-finger snifter of single-malt Scotch on a cold, rainy day. winery. Do we not have enough wine to make everyone ecstatic
There is something about the stillness of a day when the rains come with their limited allocation on some wines? Yes, and we must
that allows the soul to rest, especially when one is surrounded by continue to find the exception to the rule and bend a little if we can.
vineyards after a long harvest season. Thus, I believe the balance is learning how we address the people in
our lives who make the difference, while acknowledging that we will
It is a new decade my friends and with that comes contemplation as to
at times be subject to big limitations on production, visitation, and
what our future will hold. For those of you who have so graciously
days in a year to interact with you. Making you feel special must be
supported us for most of the last decade, you will know that we had
our top priority as it is the greatest privilege to undertake.
many firsts for our winery. So, the second decade will be adding to
our foundation. What becomes obvious to me at this moment are If we can manage these three big items over the next ten years, I
three big items to attend in the 20’s. think we may have a fighting chance to run with the best in the
business for decades to come. When looked at that way, this wine
First, and perhaps most importantly, are vineyards. Without
business is entirely worth every ounce of effort because it is so
exceptional fruit, our little winery would be left behind by producers
bloody rewarding!
who are pushing the envelope on quality. What has become a trend
that is now likely to be the norm for many decades to come, and this Speaking of the business of wine. I am delighted to introduce the
is the rising cost of fruit—both grown and acquired—especially here second vintage of all three wines featured in our Winter 2020
in Napa Valley with Sonoma now following suit. Consider the allocation. As I said last year, I began experimenting with these vine-
Beckstoffer Vinyeard Cabernet Sauvignon in your winter shipment. yards five years ago – tweaking here, pushing there, fine tuning
Gone are the days of Cabernet that a winemaker could acquire for everywhere. All deserve to take the premier space in our allocation
$5,500 a ton. Anything that is worthy of the Venge name on the bot- schedule.
tle now comes at a premium of $9,500 a ton or more. That is a 72%
First up is the refreshing 2018 Brown Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay
increase! This is something I simply could not fathom just a decade
from Los Carneros, Napa. Our fruit allotment sits adjacent to Jason
ago.
Pahlmeyer’s block where the fruit is divine and among the best-in-its
Our second area of focus will need to be upon our new sister winery, -class. The next wine in your package is the monster 2018 Oso
Croix Estate. We have plans to slowly expand that effort through Vineyard Petite Sirah, from Howell Mountain. Named after the
vineyard acquisition, refurbishment of existing assets, and building a black bears that climb the electricity pole to jump the fence line and
new, state-of-the-art production facility. I recall pushing into the chow on clusters of grapes. The fruit is jet black and delicious.
highly competitive arena of Sonoma County Pinot Noir with a good Finally, we reach for the Cabernet Sauvignon and introduce
deal of caution only to be amazed at the growing reputation we are Beckstoffer’s Missouri Hopper Vineyard located in the heart of
witnessing from our Russian River Valley winery. It has been nothing Oakville. The 2017 is right on par with my high standards and has
short of meteoric and spectacular! Thus, great care and dedication to produced another stellar addition to our quiver of Cabernets.
perfection will win the day from our Sonoma winery.
As always, I express deep gratitude for your dedication to our
Finally, we have to consider you. How do we intuitively meet your winery and all that we do. Please come visit us the next time you are
needs in a way that is thoughtful and considerate of our growing in Napa Valley.
demand with extremely limited resources? I always like to remind
everyone that works for Venge Vineyards that we can make great
wine with the best of the best here in Napa Valley. However, what
will set us apart is how we show appreciation for your continued
support. Do we make mistakes? Absolutely, however, it is how we Kirk P Venge
Proprietor & Winemaker
WINTER 2020
2018 Brown Ranc h Vineyard “Dijon Clone 76”
Chardonnay, Los Car neros, Napa Valley
In 2012 the Renteria’s than pulling all of these vines process assures silky con-
purchased the 30-acre Brown out, their vineyard manage- sistency. Aged sur-lie for an
“The second vintage of Ranch (formerly associated ment team decided to keep extended period without
Brown RanchVineyard with Saintsbury Winery and the rootstock, cut off the stirring, this wine was fined
formerly a cattle grazing ranch trunk just above the soil to via gentle racking and cold
Chardonnay is now taking its name from the for- allow a bud from the varietal stabilization, bottling unfil-
finding its path to mer owner, Nadine Brown). to grow, training it into a new tered.
The vineyard is in good trunk and then trellising it
consistency and You will find that the 2018
company, bordered by HdV’s when it became of size. The
vintage is freshly balanced and
balance. Hyde Vineyard and Beaulieu’s Brown Ranch’s hillside alluvial
Vineyard No.9 on Old soils, “Dijon Clone 76” set atop more refined than the 2017
We love the 2018 Sonoma Road. pre-existing rootstock, make a vintage. A light, pale straw
vintage as it has an Chardonnay that is worthy of presence in the glass with a
Twenty nine acres of vines labeling under the Venge name.
elegance and balance (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) bouquet of toasted pine nuts,
were already planted but most Following tradition, our fresh tropical notes, mild all-
that draws you right of these vines were afflicted Chardonnay is harvested and
spice, rocky flints, and toasted
in for another glass.” with a fungi disease, Eutypa whole-cluster pressed into
neutral French Oak where oak. The crisp, savory and
(otherwise known as the Dead
-arm Dieback) causing trunks primary and secondary native sweet delicious apple and ripe
or arms of the vines to fermentation took place over a pear lead to mouthwatering
essentially rot and die. Rather period of four months. The deliciousness.
long, slow fermentation
2018 Oso Vineya rd Petite Sirah, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Our second vintage of Oso Spanish word for bear, Oso perfection, extracting intense
Petite Sirah is a big, power- Vineyard is named for the varietal characteristics, firm
house effort that will satisfy California Black Bear that structure, and excellent aging
souls seeking concentrated, frequents the vineyard and potential.
layered styles that require a feasts on the ripening grapes.
spare toothbrush to cleanse Petite Sirah earned its name
The 95-acre Oso Vineyard,
ink stained teeth! This wine from its small berry size. It is
located between Howell
has an intense color and one of the biggest, most
Mountain and Sugarloaf on the
generous bouquet of sweet powerful and tannic varieties
East side of Napa Valley was
blueberries, blackberries, produced in America. Until
purchased by the Michael
vanilla bean and hearty, roast- the early 1960’s, Petite Sirah
Mondavi family 2006. Planted
ed coffee, all in a remarkably was one of the most popular
slopes facing the Northeastern
approachable glass. This wine grape varieties planted in the
side of Howell Mountain,
unleashes dark and luscious Napa Valley, second only to
growing out of rocky,
characteristics, with balanced Zinfandel. We chose to
volcanic soils, the vineyard is
tannins and a finish that brings produce this wine because of
ideally located for growing
home the goods. its dynamic flavor profile and
Cabernet and Petite Sirah to
jet black hue.
Drawing its name from the
2017 Bec kstoffer Missour i Hopper Vineyard
Caber net Sauvignon, Oakville
This Cabernet Sauvignon C. Yount, from whom the town of The fruit was destemmed into a
features a beautiful ruby red Yountville takes its name Pur- combination of small stainless “The second vintage of
and purple hue that sheets the chased by Charles Hopper and steel tank fermenters, concrete
glass. The aromatics are plush given to his daughter, vats, and open top barriques. this wine from a
and perfumed with ripe black Missouri, in 1877. The land was Time on skins lasted 14 to 45 Beckstoffer Heritage
cherries, clove, cinnamon, planted to wine grapes and, as days. The fruit was then separat-
blackberries and currants. much of the Napa land was at the ed to “free run” and “light press” Vineyard is sure to be a
The palate is balanced and time, prunes and walnuts. In 1960, fractions. The Cabernet was noble addition to your
the land was purchased by Bruce aged in 100% new, tight
expansive. There is no pocket
grained, French Oak barrels for
cellar with an ability
of the mouth unfilled or Kelham as part of the historic Vine
Hill Ranch. Purchased by a lengthy 27 months. We to age for a number of
escaping this wine’s sumptuous
Beckstoffer Vineyards from the employ a variety of cooperages years in proper
composition. The flavors
Kelham family in 1996, the vine- for Cabernet including Boutes,
captured in this Cabernet cellaring conditions.
yard is today planted with multiple Sylvain, Taransaud, Gamba and
Sauvignon wash over the front
clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and Alain Foquet. 100% native,
and through to the back of the
Merlot. In 2002 the property was spontaneous yeast and malolactic
palate for over two minutes
fermentations were also key 100% of this wine will
past the initial impressions. placed under land conservation
Anticipated maturity is 2021 to easement that forever prohibits ingredients in the be sold exclusively to
non-agricultural development. making of this wine. our members.”
2036.
The gentle use of gravity flow
Located north of the town of Our second vintage of this wine
winemaking, whenever possible,
Yountville in the Oakville AVA, comes from the 2017 vintage,
is carefully exercised throughout
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper where a moderate, long growing
season lead the way to the making of this and ever wine
was originally part of a large
Cabernet Sauvignon yields that from Venge Vineyards. Bottled
piece of land owned by George
were balanced and moderate. unfiltered.Access Your Allotment
WWW.VENGEVINEYARDS.COM/ACQUIRE
Your Allocation Awaits You
Due to very limited production and zealous demand for our wines, we strongly recommend a prompt response should you
desire an allotment of our winter wines. Allocations are sold first come, first served until sold out.
Need personal assistance?
(707) 942-9100
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