Dear Friends,
Happy Summer Solstice! I hope this message finds you well and ready to enjoy the longest days of the year. It is in this spirit that this is an ideal time to reconnect with you.
Traditionally, people celebrated the return of the light, life, fertility, and the potential for a good harvest on the summer solstice. Today people around the world still celebrate the arrival of summer with outdoor alfresco dining, late night stargazing, dancing, and greeting the early morning sun, to name a few.
In Rutherford and Napa Valley, we enjoyed average rainfall earlier in the season and have been fortunate to receive some Spring showers that have resulted in great energy in the vines with a full and healthy canopy. This canopy will allow the grapes to grow and mature slowly with filtered light promoting in slow maturation, optimal ‘hang time’ and an even ripening resulting in ideal complex wine. More to come as the season progresses.
We have been fortunate to bring our Rutherford wines to different parts of the world this year, including Germany, England, Tulsa, Omaha, Spain and Austin, to name a few. This is really the highlight of what I do, sharing the wine and cuisine with friends and wine enthusiasts all over the world. Thousands of hours go into each vintage and it is a privilege to share the stories and enjoy the fruits of our bounty. I have learned that no matter where people are from, food and wine bring us together– it is common ground where we connect with each other. Recently I had a wine dinner with people from different parts of the world. There were some that didn’t speak the same language, but there was a high level of communication between them. They didn’t know each other prior to the event, but parted as friends.
To celebrate this time of year we are offering our 2019 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Reserve Sauvignon Blanc as well as our 2019 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.
2019 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Aromas of plums, mulberries, dried herbs, dark chocolate and baking spices. Full-bodied with plush tannins and bright acidity. Rich and plush, with a long luxurious finish.
2019 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Aromas on the nose start with orange peel and fresh cut flower notes progressing to Asian pear with a whisper of vanilla spice. On the palate, a rewarding balance of luxurious texture creates just the right amount of complexity. Forward notes of ripe citrus, star fruit and nuances of minerality evolve to a harmony of texture depth and brightness.
2019 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
Sourced from the estate vineyard owned by the same family for over 100 years. Aromas of plums, mulberries, dried herbs, dark chocolate and baking spices. Full-bodied with plush tannins and bright acidity. Rich and plush, with a long luxurious finish. I hope you are finding this time of year as special as we are. It is in this spirit that I raise a glass to you all. To those whom I’ve had the pleasure of seeing, to those I’ve had conversations and written communication, to those whom I haven’t the pleasure of meeting yet. I will keep the glass raised to you all.
How are you going to be celebrating the Summer? Please let us know in the comments below, or tag us in your wine adventures on IG @tonellacellars.
Cheers,
