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Produced from two separate vineyards, this illustrious wine was blended just prior to bottling with a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Merlot added to enhance the richness and mouth feel of this stellar "King of Reds." True to the varietal and reputation of Cabernet, this massive wine has flavors of cherry, cassis and black currant that seem to fight for the palate's attention. Scents of dill, sage and sweet tobacco excite the senses, while exhibiting a bold mouth feel backed by firm, yet refined tannins and perfectly balanced acidity. Ending with flavors of oak and vanilla, this wine has it all.

This is a unique and extraordinary release for Thornton Winery and the 1999 Harvest. The vineyards in La Cresta, where this Cabernet comes from, are located along a ridge of the Santa Rosa Mountains that are west of Temecula. Located at approximately 1000 feet higher than the Temecula Valley, this area is much different in the elements that comprise terroir. Normally, these grapes are used in our Cabernet-Merlot blend but for 1999 the varietal character and structure dictated that a different program be developed for this lot of wine. New French oak barrels were used and after fifteen months in oak this wine was bottled. Very classic berry and pepper aromas came forth while subtle herbaceous notes meld with the warm toasty aromas from the oak. Initially the tannins embrace the palette and the flavors unfold as the wine is drawn into the mouth. Definitely this wine is a benchmark for Cabernet production in the area and over the next four to six years this wine will develop and show even more classic Cabernet finesse.

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are from 3 different local vineyards that are now 6 to 7 years of age. Even though the vineyards are young, the attention to detail by the grower brings forth fruit that is destined for a great wine. The balance of spice and herb from the Cabernet and berry aromas from the Merlot are certainly reminiscent of past vintages, but the intensity and depth of this wine is truly something that comes from the vineyard. The other varietal used is Verdot. These grapes were used in small amounts to help develop the overall character and structure of the wine. Our 2002 Cabernet-Merlot was primarily aged in a combination of new American, French and Russian oak for about 15 months. Portions of the blend were aged in older barrels to help keep the oak level in harmony with the fruit character of the wine. The blend has firm tannins and acidity and will gracefully age with the lovely berry fruit and subtle earthy herb aromas and flavors.

Chardonnay is a varietal whose popularity has grown at a steady pace. Over the years we have produced Chardonnay from neighboring regions but have never made a Chardonnay that is solely from Temecula. We chose to harvest the fruit slightly earlier and purposely made a Chardonnay that had a crisp texture due to youthful acidity levels. Gentle, whole cluster pressing of the fruit was followed with cold settling of the juice prior to racking the barrel. The production was barrel fermented in a combination of new and older (3-4 year old) French and American oak. Nice apple and tropical fruit aromas meld with the oak and balance the wood to fruit. Good length and body with a crispness and a refreshing finish that rivals many of the grand cru Chardonnays from Chablis. This wine demonstrates the ability of Temecula to produce world class Chardonnay.

This contemporary blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault produced a wine with rich dimension and structure, with each variety adding a definitive “Brick” in the wall of flavor. Sourced from 70 and 80-year old vineyards in the Cucamonga Valley, it has beautiful, red, plum color with spicy fruit qualities in the nose. The five varietals meld to yield a richly complex wine, berries, rose petals, plums, a touch of tobacco and cedar. In addition to the subtle oak, soft, mouth-filling tannins yield to the rich fruit flavors and long, lingering finish. This wine can easily rival any classified wine of the Rhône region of France, and its structure is sure to age and become more beguiling with age.

This inaugural release of our 2004 Estate Syrah is an exceptional example of perfectly made Syrah from Temecula Valley. Grown on our Estate Vineyard here at Thornton, the fruit was hand selected and picked at optimum maturity, lightly crushed and fermented using state of the art temperature controlled stainless steel tanks to retain the rich fruit flavors that show so brilliantly in this wine. Dusty berry and black cherry aromas, with a touch of white pepper entice the most discerning oenopohile to quickly tilt the glass. The aromas are quickly followed with an unmatched richness of massive plum and anise flavors that are perfectly balanced with a soft backbone of silky tannin structure and multi-faceted cocoa and berry fruit nuances.

The inaugural release of this 2004 Gewurztraminer begins a new addition to the Thornton line of outstanding varietal wines. Gewurztraminer, known as the mostly widely used grape in the Alsace region of France, actually originated in Austria. Our Gewurztraminer is grown right here in the Temecula Valley, and picked at optimum maturity to showcase the floral qualities of this wine. Opening with crisp tropical fruit and spice in the nose, the bright sweet flavors of pear, mango and linalool coat the palate. A lingering finish of nutmeg, clove and anise leave you in anticipation of the next sip. Enjoy this wine by itself as an aperitif, or with spicy ethnic foods.

Not every vintage is ideal to make a late harvest style wine because you really need the perfect ripening conditions to remain at length until the fruit is at its optimum sugar level, about 36 brix. Fortunately, 2004 was such a year. This special wine is made entirely from Zinfandel grapes left to hang until just before the first rains begin to fall. It is a uniquely viscous monster with ultra-ripe dusty blackberry and peppery aromas that emanate from the glass. Mouth coating flavors of blueberry, rich white chocolate and gooseberry are framed by a silky, velvety backbone. Ending with lingering spice and vanilla-berry. This handcrafted Late Harvest Zinfandel will surely have people praying to Mother Nature for the next perfect vintage!

An excellent example of this well known Bordeaux variety, our 2004 Merlot is an outstanding full-bodied wine. This rich Merlot opens with hints of blackberry, spice and a unique trace of peppercorn character on the nose. Abundant plum and cherry flavors coat the palate with undertones of anise and fig. A firm but softened tannin structure contributes to the rich mid-palate, finishing with generous hints of toasty oak and maple.

Our 2005 Moscato is produced entirely from the infamous Muscat of Alexandria, one of the varieties best known for producing the popular sparkling muscat wines of Northern Italy. For our Moscato, we allow the fruit to achieve a higher level of maturity, which contributes to the floral fruit aspects of this rich wine. When served slightly chilled, the perfect balance of crisp sweetness and nice acidity heightens the spicy melon fruit and banana characters on the palate. This Moscato demonstrates wonderful varietal character and superb drink-ability. Enjoy by itself, with fruit, or spicy Asian cuisine.

The noble grape of the Piedmont region in Italy, Nebbiolo is a varietal that can be difficult to vinify due to uneven ripening, low color development and exceptional acids. Our Nebbiolo vineyards are located in the Temecula Valley at the base of the Santa Margarita Mountains. Growing conditions here mirror locations of the Piedmont in Italy, where Nebbiolo is used to make some of the finest wines in the world. Our Nebbiolo is styled much like a Barbaresco, with forward fruit and tannins. Rich plum and berry characters marry with the oak. Subtle mint and spice imparted from the eucalyptus windbreaks in the vineyards add rich complexity. Our Nebbiolo reflects the finest of what the South Coast climate and vineyards have to offer.

We source fruit from the José Lopez vineyard in the Cucamonga Valley. This vineyard is dry land farmed and produces three quarters of a ton per acre. These low yields intensify the varietal character of the fruit, which boast licorice, and jammy, brambly fruit. These signature characteristics are further enriched by partial whole fruit fermentations with extended post fermentation maceration. The extract and intensity of varietal character is full blown, with moderate tannins and good body and depth. The effects of barrel aging enrich this wine and add a dimension of structure to the abundant fruit character. This wine stands as a model of the ability of the Cucamonga Valley to produce world class wines from vines that were once the dominant force in the California wine industry.

This is the first harvest off the Luttgens Family Vineyards Block 4, and although it is the first, the fruit had wonderful character for such a young vineyard. Initially, this wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks before it was racked into fourteen year-old French oak barrels to finish fermenting. The barrels used for this wine were older, and thus fairly neutral in their ability to impart oak flavor. The desire was to give the wine only a slight nuance of oak, and not overwhelm the fruit character of the Roussanne. In the end, the alluring aroma of nectarines and herbal tea capture the senses and yield to the rich body and lingering finish. Although the easiest way to describe the character of Roussanne may be to say it’s like Viognier, yet when you taste it, you will understand that it is really different from Viognier. More subtle fruit aromas with a delicate herbal background make it much more approachable in many respects. Balanced acidity and low residual sugar make this the Chardonnay drinker’s alternative. Enjoy something different for a change and try a Roussanne.

Our limited bottling of this 2005 Sangiovese proves once again that our unique climate here is perfectly suited for Italian varietals. Opening with dark cherry fruit and anise flavors, our "California style wine making of Italian varietals" is apparent with the depth and body of this wine. Hints of persimmon, nutmeg and berry coat the palate with nicely balanced acidity to round out the bright fruit characters, finishing with a generous amount of toasted oak.

Often a winemaker?s nemesis in California, Sangiovese is a delicate, often finicky varietal that can be absolutely outstanding when well made, as our 2005 Sangiovese most certainly is. This famous variety that hails from the Chiani region in Italy benefits from our warmer climate in Temecula Valley and the extreme maturity we are able to achieve in the vineyard contributes to this ultra premium limited bottling we have produced. Our version of Sangiovese is a more concentrated and balanced richly textured wine. Hand picked at optimum maturity and brix, the fruit was gently de-stemmed and lightly crushed to leave mostly whole berries for fermentation. Closely monitored to maintain cool fermentation temperatures, our Sangiovese experienced an extended maceration time of about 21 days for maximum color extraction and softer mouthful. The fruit was then gently pressed and racked to new French oak for 8 months of barrel aging. At that point, our winemaker blended in 5% 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon for a touch of structure and backbone and chose to bottle this Sangiovese immediately to retain the delicate fruit flavors. The very limited, special release bottling of Sangiovese has vibrant flavors of cherry, dried cranberry and cedar with hints of toasty oak and anise.

The Sauvignon Blanc grape is a very unique varietal, and the Musque clone of Sauvignon Blanc is especially unique be-cause it is not as widely cultivated. Instead of assertive grassy and herbaceous aromas and flavors, the Musque clone has very rich tropical and citrus characters that dominate. The subtle “green” characters are ever present, but the intensity of fruit really does take over and do all the talking. Using exclusively stainless steel during production, this “no oak” Style maintains the fruit forward, a style very much akin to Sancerre from the Loire in France or Marlborough in New Zealand. Crisp acidity with just a hint of residual sugar makes for a very balanced wine.

Well drained granitic soil, combined with the warm days and cool nights, create ideal growing conditions for our Syrah, the famed varietal of the Rhone Valley in France. Bright concentrated red fruit characters with hints of berry and mocha are the opening act in this multi-layered wine. Soft velvety tannins frame the rich, mouth coating palate of plum and lavender, finishing with hints of maple and toasty oak.

This delicious red blend of Rhone varietals with Italian influence that shows luscious fruit and richness, with a touch of toasty oak. A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Barbera, and Sangiovese, this wine opens with deep cherry and hints of maple in the nose, with rich red fruit, plum, and lavender on the palate, finishing with subtle oak and vanilla characters. A great wine to serve with spicy appetizers, grilled meats, and hearty pasta's. Enjoy now or cellar it for 2 to 5 years.

Viognier is a white varietal that makes luscious and heady wines. In Condrieu, an appellation in the northern Rhone Valley, it is the primary grape grown. Viognier made a big splash among many California wine producers in the early nineties, but many wine drinkers have not fully appreciated Viognier’s wonderful flair for pairing with alternative foods and times. The 2002 vintage of Thornton Viognier is a stylistic departure from previous vintages produced. In short, prior vintages were typically vineyard blends of Viognier from several Temecula Valley growers, and exclusively fermented in older, more neutral French oak barrels. In 2002, the Viognier grapes were harvested solely from Luttgens’ Family Vineyard. Picked at their peak of ripeness, the grapes were whole cluster pressed to gently extract the juice. The juice was then cold fermented in stainless steel until it was almost dry. At this time, it was racked into new French oak barrels where the fermentation completed and the wine aged for complex nectarine, white peach and citrus aromas that are inherent in Viognier. Changing the winemaking technique helped to develop and enrich the fruit character and make this wine an exciting alternative to Chardonnay.

A vibrant, refreshing version of this popular choice of wines, our new White Zinfandel has a residual sugar of 2.9% which makes it the perfect refreshing wine with bright fruit and crisp acidity. With flavors of strawberry, raspberry and light citrus, this wine is easy to enjoy. Our 2005 White Zinfandel is very food friendly and goes well with a variety of foods. This wine is wonderfully refreshing and can also be enjoyed by itself.