2014 Trentadue Winery Old Patch Red Lot #41

Leo Trentadue’s “Old Patch Red” Lot #41

Evelyn and Leo Trentadue carried on the Italian family’s long tradition of farming when they settled in Northern California. But by the late 1950s, there was little market for apples, prunes, pears, and table grapes. As developers encroached upon their orchards, already blueprinting what would eventually come to be called the Silicon Valley, the Trentadue’s packed up and moved north to Sonoma Valley.

At the time, few in Sonoma Valley were giving much thought to winegrowing. As a result, land was dirt-cheap, and hundreds of ranches were up for sale for next to nothing. Leo Trentadue visited dozens of properties before settling on a 208-acre spread. That purchase would prove to be one of the most fortuitous in the history of Alexander Valley, even if Leo had never even heard of Andrew Bouton.

The Trentadue “Old Patch Red” is named for those original late-1800s plantings. Drawn from an old-vine mix of Zinfandel and Carignane, splashed with luscious Petite Sirah. In “good” vintages — along with Matt Cline’s Old Vines Field Blend — Trentadue’s “Old Patch” ranks among the three or four most compelling $15 reds in California. And in EXCELLENT vintages like 2014? Trentadue “Old Patch Red” Lot 41 is a $25 bottle masquerading behind a $12.50 price tag.

The 2014 Trentadue “Old Patch Red” Lot 41 is opaque purple in color. Lavish aromas of black cherry and mountain blueberry, tinged with licorice and violets. Ultra-concentrated yet still perfectly light on its feet, packed with gobs of black-fruit preserves, black chocolate, and a splash of kirsch. Don’t be fooled by the modest price tag; this is an unusually complex blend that pays homage to Andrew Bouton’s experimental planting and the Trentadue family’s intuition and perseverance.

Offered for $12.50/bottle — shipping included on 6. NOT to be missed.

• ABV 14.20%
• Enjoy right away
• % Red Blend