Cuvee Torciana is named after the maiden name of Tor's mother, a beautiful and talented actress and painter. He continues to make this wine as a tribute to his beloved mother. Beregini Vineyard in Carneros grows Hyde Selection Wente clones. The size of each bunch is about half that of a normal bunch. Fermented and aged in barrels. A wine reminiscent of the meeting of two forces: the power of California and the clean acidity of great Burgundy.
Vintage Information
There were two major fires in 2020.
This was the first difficult year that Tor Kenward has experienced in his 44 years in the Napa Valley wine industry. Unfortunately, he was unable to make any red wine from black grapes in 2020, and although he was able to grow and harvest two white wines, the yield was half that of usual.
However, both wines are of high quality.
Ideal weather in the spring resulted in good, plentiful fruit set, with larger than average clusters, a picture-perfect harvest, and more dramatic thinning of the clusters than in 2016 and 2017.
It was a perfect year with no heat waves and plenty of hang time.
Technical information
Wineed in the traditional Burgundy style.
Fermentation took place over a long period of time in small barrels (French barrels dried for three years) using natural yeasts, followed by malolactic fermentation.
Tasting Comments
This marks the 12th year since we started using grapes from Beregini Vineyards.
Now I have a good understanding of the characteristics of this field.
Torciana has lively acidity and plenty of minerals.
Beregini's soils are the same as Hyde Vineyard's but are more powerful, thicker and richer than Hyde's.
The aroma is reminiscent of Montrachet, with lemon curd and fruit flavors, and excellent acidity.
Mineral and salty taste.
Full-bodied yet never feels heavy.
In 2020, it has become even more silky smooth and elegant.
This wine evokes the encounter between the power of California and the clean acidity of great Burgundy.
Field information
Beregini Vineyards
Cuvee Torciana was named after the maiden name of Tor's mother, a beautiful and talented actress and painter, whom the family affectionately called "Tokai".
He continues to make this wine as a tribute to his beloved mother.
Until the 2008 vintage, it was a multi-vineyard wine, but from 2009 it has been a single-vineyard wine.
The wine is made exclusively from grapes planted in 1988 at Steve Beresini Vineyard, which was introduced to the winery by Larry Hyde in 2008 and grows the Hyde Selection Wente clone.
The grapes are dry farmed, and each bunch is about half the size of a regular bunch.
Vintage: 2020
Capacity: 750ml
Type: White wine
Taste: Medium bodied
Main variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Napa Valley
Nested AVAs, Others: Carneros
Vineyard: Steve Beresini Vineyard
Winemaker: Jeff Ames
Winemaking: Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation in French barrels (Sorry & Dummy), natural yeast fermentation
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 14.3%