2021 Truchard Vineyards Roussanne

Truchard Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery in the Carneros region of Napa Valley that has been
owned by Tony and Jo Ann Truchard since 1973. In 1989, the Truchards began producing wines using only
their estate-grown fruit.

Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. It is known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse. The cooling winds from the adjacent San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit. This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is also an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne.

Roussanne is a grape native to the Rhône Valley of France. Wines made from Roussanne are full-bodied and
silky but are also crisp. Roussanne adds richness and acidity to Marsanne’s soft, fruitiness, making age-worthy and highly respected Rhone whites. Roussanne takes its name from the French word, roux, meaning rouge or red because of the berry’s pink glow. In California, virtually all of the 339 acres of Roussanne come from true clones brought over by Tablas Creek and John Alban.

In 1998 the Truchards planted 3 acres of roussanne on the southern end of their estate. The vines are planted in soils consisting of volcanic rock and ash, on a gently sloped terrain.

The 2021 vintage was one of low yields after an exceptionally dry winter in California. The summer in 2021
was moderate and as a result the 2021 wines are intense, austere and concentrated.

The fruit for the 2021 Truchard Roussanne was whole-cluster pressed and fermented in French oak barrels.
The wine stayed on the lees for 6 months after fermentation. The wine was bottled in April of 2022.

Winemakers’ notes describe the wine thus. “A perfume-like nose of honeysuckle, pineapple, and honeydew
melon with a touch of brioche and vanilla. The mouth is crisp, with clean flavors of white nectarine, lemon
zest, and lychee. Bright acidity provides a lengthy finish of citrus, mineral, and spice.”

This classic white, sometimes described as being between a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc, is excellent on its own, but will pair well with seafood, poultry and most spice dishes.