Trois Noix Noisette Cuvée Red Wine Napa Valley 2018

The Araujo Family name is one that is synonymous with luxury in the wine industry. Bart and Daphne Araujo cemented their place in the Napa Valley wine industry as stewards of the Eisele Vineyard. Over the course of twenty-three years, they completely renovated the vineyard, replanting all the vines, which were threatened by phylloxera. Under the name Araujo Estate, they took all the production in-house (prior to, grapes had been sold to third parties). They switched to biodynamics back in 2000, a full decade before it became popular in the States, because some of their favorite French wines were farmed that way. And they brought in some of the valley’s best consultants, including winemaker Tony Soter, organic farming pioneer Bob Cantisano, and biodynamics expert Jeff Dawson, all drawn by the reputation of the property. In short, they raised the site’s status to the very top tier. This level of foresight and expertise remains unparalleled, and Bart and Daphne’s genius has been passed down a generation to their pioneering children.

Greg and Jaime Araujo have launched their own brand called Trois Noix which means Three Nuts in French and carries two meanings. It refers to their cumulative three children who will hopefully become the third generation of winemakers in the Araujo Family and to their three pillars of business: community, opportunity, and possibility. A driving force behind the inception of this brand was to build a platform of change. Through their vineyard partners, winemaking team, hiring processes, and charitable donations, Trois Noix has become a leader in the push for systemic change within the wine industry. They have formally committed to donating at least 2% of their annual revenue to community charitable partners that are creating opportunity for women and BIPOC people in the wine industry. When a wine is good and for a cause, count us in!

Though rain was abundant in February, the skies cleared in spring, allowing for plenty of sunlight to set the stage for bountiful and even fruit set. The relatively mild summer was followed by nearly perfect temperatures for fall which allowed fruit to develop a lovely complexity of flavors. The 2018 Noisette Cuvée is a debut vintage and the brand’s first Napa Valley red blend. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot were sourced from pristine vineyard sites in Oakville, Yountville and Diamond Mountain, and come together to deliver intensity and poise. The nose is vibrant notes of fresh blackberries, black cherries and black raspberries with hints of dried roses and herbs. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and a pleasingly long finish make this a perfect wine to pair with pork ragu.