Pax Wines 'Fanucchi-Wood' Trousseau Gris, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Co, CA 2022

• 100% Trousseau Gris
• Terroir: Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard
• Vinification: 100% Concrete Fermentation, Ambient yeasts & Bacteria
• Aging: 4-Month élevage in Neutral French Oak and Stainless Steel 
• Other: Free So2 @ Bottling – 12 ppm; 3.2 pH; 12.0% Abv
• Tasting Note: Reminiscent of the electric 2017, this 2022 shows all of the freshness and energy that we are seeing in the 2022 wines across the board and the density fruit that we taste from warmer vintages.  This means terrific natural acidity, exotic fruit and the supple and fresh palate feel which makes this wine so versatile. Fermented entirely in concrete this gorgeously playfully pink-white is becoming a staple in the finest restaurants around the world for its vibrancy, purity and versatility to pair with a wide variety of foods. Bright, fresh, and clean, with fresh summer fruits and stone fruit aromas. Pronounced florals, and exotic spices, this California Original is all about having fun and enjoying life with a glass of wine in your hand.  Smashable and delicious this 2022 will delight with almost any type of cuisine you can throw at it or to drink all by itself with a nice view and a friend or two.

From our November 2024 Bottle Club Notes:

     I often fall in love with wines that whisper of their origins, and Pax Mahle's 2022 Trousseau Gris is exactly that—a soft-spoken, nuanced reminder of the rare gems hiding in California’s heritage vineyards. Tucked into the quiet streets of Russian River Valley, the Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard is as idiosyncratic as its varieties. Pax Mahle's dedication to minimal intervention and expressive winemaking shows through in this beautiful Trousseau Gris, a variety that’s already a bit of a California enigma.
Originally planted over 40 years ago, the Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley is one of the last bastions of Trousseau Gris in California, a grape that was once common in Alsace and Jura but is now nearly forgotten. The vineyard’s resilience owes much to Peter Fanucchi, a second-generation grower who cares for his family’s vines with a near-reverent dedication, embracing sustainable farming practices to nurture this unique grape. Fanucchi’s vines are old but thrive in Sonoma’s sandy, gravelly soils, which offer excellent drainage and keep vigor in check, allowing for concentrated flavors. Despite a near-disappearance in the 1980s when producers ripped out many historic vines to plant more marketable grapes, Trousseau Gris has found a humble champion in Pax Mahle.
     With his thoughtful approach, Mahle encourages the fruit to express its own personality. The fruit starts spontaneous fermentation with its native yeasts and on its skins, then is whole-cluster pressed and aged in neutral vessels. The result is a wine that’s refreshingly unadorned yet complex. The brief skin-contact gives the wine a subtle blush hue—somewhere between rosé and white—and offers a textural depth that brings it into a category of its own. Mahle’s Trousseau Gris is bottled unfined and unfiltered, preserving every bit of vibrancy.
     Pour a glass and you’ll find aromas that pull you in: crushed sea shells, wet river stones, a quiet perfume of orange blossom, and a hint of wild herbs like fennel fronds and chamomile. On the palate, it’s lively yet elegant, with notes of white peach, salted lemon, and a minerally finish that lingers long after the last sip. There's a beautiful tension between its crisp acidity and silky mouthfeel, a balance that makes it endlessly drinkable yet nuanced enough to keep you coming back.
     This wine is perfect for a seafood feast, a picnic with friends, or at the table for Thanksgiving. Try pairing it with oysters, a lemony burrata salad, or simply pour a glass as you enjoy the weekend. Pax Mahle’s Trousseau Gris is a rare treat that captures the essence of Russian River Valley’s hidden beauty. — Cara Patricia