We are pleased to welcome Winemaker, Mr. Daniel Benton. The word “Croze” is French for the groove in which a wine barrel’s head rests. The croze helps keep the barrel from leaking and adds stability to the barrel itself. As a boutique, fine wine craftsman, Daniel embraces the rich diversity of California’s most prestigious wine growing appellations. He recognizes the age old tradition of terrior and only sources grapes from optimal sites where families take the same care in growing wine as he does in making it.
WINE LIST:
Croze Viognier
Croze Viognier is a complex, yet elegant wine with aromas of white flowers and rich stone fruit. On the palate this wine shows peach and apricot notes and a subtle minerality that adds depth. The finish is crisp and elegant creating an experience that reflects the Croze philosophy of balance and finesse.
Croze Chardonnay
It is barrel aged sur lie and bottled without malolactic inoculation. The resulting wine has a defined depth of flavor with a bright and crisp acidity. In keeping with the CROZE philosophy, the wine demonstrates exceptional balance and is priced to be an extreme value based on wine quality. Only four barrels are available.
Smith Wooton Pinot Noir
This is a beautiful Pinot Noir from the cliffs of the Sonoma Coast along Northern California's breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. This Pinot has the richness afforded by the California sunshine with the elegance of its ancestors from Burgundy, France. The bouquet is full of flowers, fresh pine, wild mushroom with a hint of cinnamon and clove. The palate delivers pillow soft maraschino cherries, black tea, subtle allspice, finishing with vanilla and fresh earth. This Pinot Noir is a perfect example of balance, refined and layered, world class artwork from one of the world's most difficult red wines to produce.
Smith Wooton Cabernet Franc
SMITH WOOTON CABERNET FRANC is bold and tannic with clear varietal character. 30 months in French oak barrels enhances the tannin structure and adds to the wine's aging potential. The wine opens with aromas of mint and sweet roasted peppers with just a touch of spice. There is a memory of dried roses and dark cherries with tingles of spices as the wine coats the palate. The wine demonstrates classic leather notes on the finish. This is a classic Smith Wooton wine that coats the palate and leaves you craving another sip. The wine has the balance to age gracefully for a decade. Decanting prior to drinking is recommended.
Smith Wooton Melange
This Right Bank Bordeaux Style Blend was produced from Cabernet Franc from the Flinn Vineyard and Merlot from the Longwood Ranch. These two iconic vineyards combine to create a wine that is even greater than the sum of its parts.
Production Notes:
Small lot fermentations in one ton bins allows for the individual varietals to reach their full potential and complexity. Gentle handling in the winery limits the extraction of harsh tannins, producing a wine with elegance and balance.
Smith Wooton Syrah
The Smith Wooton 2015 Syrah erupts with bright, intoxicating aromas of ripe strawberry and dark cherries the moment you open a bottle. Beautiful red fruits cascade throughout your whole experience and linger on the finish with hints of cocao nibs. This wine is a shining example of a fruit-forward style that beautifully balances very subtle pepper, spices and clean, focused acidity. This Syrah is all about freshness and ready to drink upon release and will continue to improve for many years in your cellar.
Croze Cabernet Sauvignon
Croze Cabernet Sauvignon follows the Croze philosophy of balance and elegance. Here is a wine with its roots deep in the cult wine growing area of Oakville, and its pedigree is long. These grapes are organically farmed in one of the most prestigious vineyards in the Oakville AVA. The Money Road Vineyard is known for producing some of Napa Valley's greatest Cabernets.
The grapes were harvested in October 2014 and following a slow fermentation the wine was racked to barrel using 1/3 new, 1/3 once filled and 1/3 twice filled French Oak barrels.
Croze Cabernet Port
The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes came from Tenbrink Vineyards in Suisun Valley, just across the Eastern Hills from Napa Valley. Here, the daylight hours are just a bit warmer, without the cooling marine influence of San Francisco Bay. Steve Tenbrink grew these luscious grapes especially for us. The growing season was warm and dry enough to allow the extended hang time necessary for concentrating the sugars in the grapes—perfect for making varietal Port. The grapes were allowed to hang well past the normal picking date. This increased the complexity and density of the fruit flavors. The grapes were crushed and left on the skins for one week before inoculation with alcohol-tolerant yeast.