The #1 Most Awarded “Other White”: “California Wine Winners 2002"

12.50 –15.50                                           NEW LABEL>      

                                                                             NEW GOLD FOIL TOP

                                                                         (To match our award history!)

                                                                                    Enlarged back label

                                                        (For those of  us

                                                                                   Approaching 40!)                                                                                                                                                                                                      .                                                                                    

Fa-noo-key FANUCCHI VINEYARDS   2000 TROUSSEAU GRIS

  (“VINE MASTER”: PETER FANUCCHI P.O. BOX 290 FULTON CA.95439 FAX 707 544-6106)

    FanucchiVineyards.com

HARVEST DATE:  September 25, 2000

                               @22.6 Brix

                               & gently “Whole Cluster” Pressed to only 135 gallons (46.3 cases) per ton!

FERMENTATION:   SLOW & COLD                                      

                                 31 DAYS

                                TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS 45F

                                 90 % Steinberger Yeast  & 10%QA23 Yeast some in small French Oak

                                 Finished & ‘aged’ in the new custom built in 2000 Fanucchi Vineyards           .                                Stainless Steel Trousseau Gris Tank

BOTTLING:         February 2, 2001

                        TA: 5.70             Alc: 13.45     RS: 0.30% (DRY)     PH: 3.21         VA: 0.25

TROUSSEAU GRIS (Tr00-so Gree) was originally traced back to the Alsace –Lorraine in Northern France, near the German border. It has historically been miss-named and, particularly confused with Riesling. It is neither in the Riesling nor the Pinot Gris families (No longer legal on wine; some did use the names Chace’ Gris & Grey Riesling). Its lineage is from another rare Alsatian grape: TROUSSEAU (red), from northern France – so, it makes sense that this grape thrives in the cool coastal “appellation” of Russian River Valley! Historically this grape has been used for port, & blended into methode champenoise, and even strengthening the nose for many white & red wines!

I helped my father plant this, now Sonoma County’s only block, in 1981, and raised it to maturity after he passed away. Since, with fine wine, the best possible flavors are determined before the grapes are removed from the vine, and since those flavors are a product of the whole environment in which they were grown; I am still the hands-on  winegrower for my wines.  …This means my job is to encourage the environment our vines grow in to be as healthy & balanced as possible!

The result of a cool Russian River Valley growing season is a mature grape fully balanced by its crisp natural acids! To capture the essence of this delicate fruit that I labored for decades to preserve, after harvest & gentle handling, the most critical “process” is COLD FERMENTATION! (By protecting everything the volatile heat, not only do we preserve the fruit, but retain more of it’s natural effervescence-CO2-which naturally keeps the wine a little fresher & can show more bubbles then than most white wines.) To thrive, this grape must be grown in coolest wine regions 

TASTING NOTES: The Crisp, Clean, Flowery bouquet, FRESH PEACHES, honeysuckle, pear, melon & delicate spices and tropical fruit flavors make it a delightful compliment to a wide array of foods! Compare its “Nose” to Viognier or Marsanne, with a gentler spice than a dry Gewürztraminer and far, far more fruit than the best Pinot Gris could hope for!

Every Trousseau Gris vintage has garnered acclaim. In 1999 competitions the 1998 kept the tradition alive by earning enough medal points to be listed in the TOP 2 wines in the “other whites” category! (WINE WINNERS 2000) AMONG THE GOLDS ARE: 94 POINTS & BEST OF CLASS OF REGION –California State Fair  (Our previous “Best” TG Compliment was December 1998’s Wine & Spirit’s 92 Point rating in the TOP 100 WINES OF THE YEAR) The December 1999 issue of Wine & Spirits has it rated as 90! They call it:“…consistently Excellent.” (3rd Dec. W &S has our TG @ 90+)         

*This vintage is collecting a pile of medals & scored more points than the ’98! …making it The #1 Most Awarded “Other White”In the 9 CA wine competitions tracked by “California Wine Winners 2002” & in the top 1% in “California Grapevine’s”2001 competition tracking! (@ #6 which includes Pinot Gris & many “Rhone Wines” like Viognier)