No time for fooling around today.

Unless you don’t want to be in early on one of the best-kept secrets in our neck of the woods…

The outstanding reviews. The top-shelf pedigree. The 50% plus discount. And of course, the straight-up Old World DELICIOUSNESS of this New World red…

All 100% the TRUTH.

This fantastic Cab blend comes from two famous Bordeaux-bred families - Gonzague & Claire Lurton. Together they share 4 generations of winegrowing in Bordeaux and own multiple Left Bank Châteaux. After pumping out decades of Grands Crus Classés across the pond, they set out to plant a flag over here, taking aim at Chalk Hill in Sonoma. They bought a vineyard and named it Trinité.

After all, Château Latour owns Eisele. Mouton, half of Opus One. Petrus has Dominus, Château Rauzan Segla has St. Supéry.

So, when Gonzague and Claire Lurton of Margaux 2nd Growth Château Durfort-Vivens and of Pauillac’s Haut-Bages-Libéral set their sight on a California project, they zeroed in on one place, Chalk Hill of Sonoma. Specifically, Trinité Estate. Who led them to this promised land? Bordelaise friend and soon-to-be neighbor Pierre Seillan, the genius behind Verité, with more than a dozen perfect 100-point scores from the Wine Advocate, where no Bordeaux variety specialist from Sonoma has gone before. With that kind of wind in their sails, the sky is the limit for Trinité.

Acaibo is their flagship wine, hailing from the 2013 vintage which bred some seriously powerful wines. Takes its name from “aca”, meaning water or fish, in the native Pomo language and “ibo”, meaning three, because it’s a classic blend based on Cabernet, with Merlot and some Cabernet Franc, they own three Classified Growths in Bordeaux, and last but not least, they have 3 children to continue the legacy.

Of all the accolades, this Hugh Johnson tasting note nails it: “Classic claret nose. Translucent dark red, fresh/subtle oak scent, fresh berries (not currants), immediately and intensely tempting. No crashing entry, just crisp and invigorating at first, then more plummy, intriguing hints of spice, mouthfilling without force, gracefully tailored on the rear view. Hard to resist, light in touch and heart; much more Bordeaux than California in spirit.”

When James Suckling said it needs “2-3 years to soften” he was right. We just tasted it, and with a little age, it’s DEALING super plush, polished, ripe fruit. It moonwalks across your palate with all sorts of deep red and black fruits, melted dark chocolate, licorice, roasted coffee, fresh earth, and pipe tobacco.

Not a heavy or overblown wine, but a Cabernet blend of finesse, elegance, and grace.

Too bad this library allocation is limited, step up to the plate Operatives, will move fast.

93 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Gonzague and Claire Lurton own several properties in Bordeaux, including Durfort Vivens, Ferrière, Haut-Bages Liberal and La Gurgue. In 2012, they acquired a vineyard in Sonoma County, with the aim of producing Bordeaux-inspired white and red blends. In 2014 they built a small winery and ripped out some of the original vines, planted in 1998, to plant more Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. French-born vigneron Nicolas Vonderheyden oversees management of the vineyards and winemaking. These are classically styled, restrained wines that represent great value. A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2013 Acaibo is medium to deep ruby-purple colored with a classic nose of pencil shavings, cast-iron pan, dried herbs and warm chocolate with touches of eucalyptus, warm blackcurrant, warm red and black cherries and a backbone of exotic spices and floral nuances. Medium to full-bodied, it offers wonderfully intense flavor layers, open and giving in the mouth, with a supporting frame of fine-grained, ripe tannins and uplifting freshness, finishing long and nuanced. Still a baby! This is drinking beautifully now but will continue to age. Drink 2020-2030.”

93 Points – James Suckling

“Lots of blackcurrant, violet, and perfumed on the nose. Full to medium body, polished, ripe tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Extremely fine tannins. Needs two or three years to soften. A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Some Cabernet Franc.”

92 Points – Wine Enthusiast

“This blend is proprietors Claire and Gonzague Lurton’s foray into California fruit: the two of them together owner several estates in Bordeaux. Their estate vineyard site, still in replanting mode, sits atop a compelling knoll atop Chalk Hill. Leathery and smoky, this wine is classically styled in currant and pencil lead, with a dry, restrained body that lingers on the palate.”