Tell Me About Joseph Swan Trenton Estate Pinots...

WINE TALK
1

I’ve yet to have a bottle of Swan, but I have access to a few Swan Trentons from 1999 to 2002 at a good price. Looking at their website, it looks like this is Swan’s top wine (or near the top), so I’m wondering about general style - big or restrained, and what the aging curve is like.

2

Paging Mr. Gutting…

3

Hmmm… let’s see…

2000 Joseph Swan Steiner Vineyard Pinot Noir … with tannic finish…with minerals on nose… cherry.
2000 Joseph Swan Trenton Estate Syrah… a little bitter… not really giving me much… quite tannic.

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ITB too.
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4

These wines are (in my humble opinion) some of the best wines in the world. They can be big and fruity and even tannic when young but they age into remarkable complexity and nuance. Along with some Dehlinger Octagons they are the best new world Pinot Noirs Ive had. Totally underated wines. Keep in mind though that they are one wine that can go through burgundy-styled “closed” periods.

Set your expectations high enough?

5

Mike – as is well-established, I’m a huge fan of this vineyard. It’s one of the oldest for Pinot in California, and it produces wines of unique perfume and expresses RRV as well as any wine out there.

The 1999-2002 period is terrific, and I’d highly recommend the wines. They age beautifully and all should still be showing well, assuming they have been stored well.

The 1999 I’m least familiar with. Had it once, probably back in 2003 or 2004, and it was youthful and full of cherry fruit.

The 2000 I last had in 2006, and it was screaming good, just entering into its best window. An underrated wine I wish I had more of.

The 2001, for my taste, seemed to be a bit of a long ager, showing very youthfully last year.

The 2002 … this is a money wine. One of the best CA Pinots of the last ten years. Perhaps only rivaled by the efforts of this vineyard in 2005 and 2007, among a handful of other wines. I just recently had a bottle and, finally, after seven years, it is starting to open up and show its full hand. Tons of happy life left.

In terms of general profile, you can expect lots of red and black cherry, some floral, plenty of earth and spice, strong acidity, and exceptional elegance and texture. I find a compelling mushroom and floral quality as they get older, married with fruit that seems to never lose its youthful exuberance.

I hope you try them and enjoy them – if nothing else, it’s a marvelous wine to drink to have as a reference point, even if it ends up not being your pace.

I’d generally put Trenton Estate in the more restrained camp, but there is such intensity and verve behind the wines. In warmer years such as 2003 and 2006, it can be riper and more accessible early. But it’s always comparatively restrained, in my opinion.

Hope that helps.

6

Tom has far more experience with Swan tha I do, but i’m with he and Barry here.
2002 Swan Trenton, consumed this year, is benchmark Cali pinot for me.
Not sure it gets much better.
That one still has years to go.
I’d buy at a good price all day long.

7

Yup. Probably the best Cali Pinot I’ve had in the last few years. Medium+, great acidity, black fruit notes, appreciable structure. If you like your Cali pinots to be cab-like, round, oaky or hot, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Only 3 of a 6 pack left and very difficult to keep one’s paws off. Should keep going strong for 5+ years.

RT

8

There is a trenton syrah that dates back as far as 1999, so be clear that you mean the pinots (in the subject obviously).

Another lover of the Trenton pinot. In some years a little bigger, but always balanced.
Have had some of the pinots from the mid to late 90’s. Very nice and still drinking well a year or so ago.

I also do like the syrah a lot, but my experience is much more limited, have only had 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. Loved them all except the 2000. Don’t have a note on that one, but never went back for any more, so I suspect I agree with ‘Simons’ note above. Drank cases+ of the 01 and 03, just starting on the 04 - great value.

9

Thanks guys! I’ve been focusing my pinot budget on Inman Family, Rhys and Anthill for the last few years - so my tastes obviously fall in the restrained category. This sounds like this is in my wheel house - especailly with some age.

Berry - at what age would you say the “complexity and nuance” develops?

10

I’ve been through about a 6-er of the 02. Drinking really well, +1 on the above praise.

11

They are not the type of wines that RP or JL would score above 90 in group tastings, but they are excellent, rustic Pinots that are very good QPRs.

12

Depends on the vintage. To put it in perspective 02 is still somewhat primary and only last year just barely starting to slide into the teriary world. 05s and Id guess 07s will be really long lived. I liked the youthful sap of the 04s so Ive already drank all that I owned. Probablly a mistake.

13

[shock.gif] Wow. We agree on a wine ?!?!?! grouphug

14

Usually the complexity starts hitting at age 5-7, depending on the vintage. More structured years like 2002, 2005, and 2007 are at the end of that scale.

In terms of long-term aging, these wines can go on and on … I’ve been privileged to drink many older ones, including the first vintage of 1973, which had amazing freshness and vibrance to the fruit. 1986, 1987, 1996, 1997 all in the past year have been marvelous wines. A true gem in California Pinot. Hopefully you enjoy, Mike.

15

Thanks for the notes guys, I just picked up a bottle of the '02 Trenton from JJ B.

Sounds like I’d be well served to wait a little before popping it, though.

If any of your are in NYC or London, you’re most welcome to join in the fun.