Allen Estate Wines is a micro producer with an emphasis on high quality, well balanced elegant wines.
Our small production allows our complete attention to detail, finish and finesse.
Audacieux means bold, courageous and daring and embodies our approach to crafting our boutique California wines.
Audacieux – Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Audacieux Oakville Stanford is a single vineyard and single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon produced from grapes grown on the top of Oakville Grade, Napa Valley. Aged in new French Oak for 24 months, this wine is elegant and expressive with the qualities of a fine Bordeaux. Produced and hand crafted by Ron Allen and Winemaker Chris Taddei.
Vintages
2012 Vintage
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Winemakers Notes:
This wine is gentle and elegant in nature and has the qualities you would find in a fine Bordeaux. The tannins are soft while the fruit remains bright mid palate. The flavors are subtle and not overpowering and the finish is long and includes notes of blackberries and mild tannins. The overall mouth feel is soft and pleasing. This wine would be best enjoyed with any dish that does not overpower the elegant flavors.
Vineyard Notes:
The 2012 vintage of Audacieux is Napa County single vineyard designate from a private estate on Oakville Grade called S. Vineyards. The property is situated just above Oakville at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet and has a unique combination of clones planted to produce a wine that has a distinctive French style.
Harvest Notes:
2012 growing season was a very unique season marked by superb growing conditions that created low yields of high flavor fruit. The spring weather, with long stretches of cool days yielded a near perfect spring bud break and great flowering. The 2012 vintage will be ready to drink in late 2015 and can be aged for quite some time.
2013 Vintage
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The 2013 Audacieux is a wine that is made in the style of fine Bordeaux and embodies a tradition of patience and excellence. This wine is extracted with layers of balanced tannins, soft fruit, gentle mouthfeel and a long finish. If you choose to age your Audacieux it is very well balanced, will store well for decades and will get better with time.
Sommelier Christopher Sawyer had this to say about the 2013 Audacieux: This vibrant wine opens with seductive aromas of ripe berries, mountain herbs, chocolate ganache, and cedar. The favors are deep and robust briary blackberry, ripe blueberry, cassis, dark plum, fresh currants, sage, and a nice balance of fine French oak, chewy tannins, and rich, round mouthfeel lead to a long, lingering finish. 97 points.
Winemakers Notes:
This wine is gentle and elegant in nature and has the qualities you would find in a fine Bordeaux. The tannins are soft while the fruit remains bright mid palate. The flavors are subtle and not overpowering and the finish is long and includes notes of blackberries and mild tannins. The overall mouth feel is soft and pleasing. This wine would be best enjoyed with any dish that does not overpower the elegant flavors.
Vineyard Notes:
The 2013 vintage of Audacieux is Napa County single vineyard designate from a private estate on Oakville Grade. This rugged hillside property just above Oakville is a very highly sought after terroir. At an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet this vineyard has a unique combination of clones planted to produce a wine that has a distinctive French style.
Harvest Notes:
The 2013 growing season encountered a warm, dry spring brought early bud break, helped with canopy vigor and berry size and created ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set under sunny skies. With the exception of one heat spike in late June/early July, temperatures were consistently in the zone for optimal vine activity, resulting in notably healthy vines as fruit went through veraison and started ripening. The cooler, sunny weather throughout October allowed the final grapes still on the vine to linger longer, developing more phenolic and flavor maturities with sugar levels remaining steady.
2014 Vintage
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- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon – Single Vineyard
- Oakville Ridge, Napa, California
- Un-fined and unfiltered
- 24 months in 100% new French Oak
The 2014 Audacieux Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine deliberately made to emulate the style of fine Bordeaux and embody the tradition of patience and excellence but also to embrace the fruit, texture and roundness that has made Napa wine so famous. The 2014 Audacieux is an extracted full bodied wine with layers of berry and dark stone fruit, a long finish and elegant tannins that lend to a round and soft mouthfeel. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine is balanced and approachable now but will age well for decades and will continue to evolve with time.
Sommelier Christopher Sawyer had this to say about the 2014 Audacieux:
From its deep, rich and distinct aromas of dark toned fruits, ripe berries, cocoa powder, lavender, cigar box and savory spice, to its elegant entry and velvety texture, this wine becomes more graceful and complex as it opens up in the glass. On the palate, plush notes of dark cherry, blackberry, huckleberry, blueberry, cassis, wild currants and fresh mountain sage are enhanced with hints of allspice, mineral, and fine French oak. Balanced with soft, fine-grained tannins, bright acidity and firm structure, the flavor profile is topped off with a long, persistent finish. The end result is a profoundly elegant wine that is rich and approachable when young, with plenty of backbone, natural verve and pure fruit flavors to make it a true gem to cellar for many years to come.
With food, this masterful balance of depth, flavor and finesse make this a great wine to pair with blue cheese, wild mushrooms, pan-seared duck breast, grill steaks, rack of lamb, and dark chocolate desserts. Dynamic and oh so satisfying from start to finish.
Score: 97 points
Winemakers Notes:
This wine is both round in the mouth and elegant in nature. The 2014 Audacieux rivals the characteristics of the finest Bordeaux yet couples the best qualities of the most sought after Napa Cabernets. The tannins are soft yet bring structure, while the fruit rounds out the mid palate with spice and minerality, leading to a long and memorable finish sure to leave you wanting more. The flavors are deliberate yet subtle and not overpowering and the finish is long and includes notes of dark berries with soft yet attentive tannins. The overall mouth feel is round, soft and pleasing.
Vineyard Notes:
The 2014 vintage of Audacieux is Napa County single vineyard designate from a private estate on the top of Oakville Grade. This rugged hillside property just above Oakville is a very highly sought after terroir. At an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet this vineyard has a unique combination of clones planted to produce a wine that has a distinctive French style that is coupled with Napa fruit qualities.
Harvest Notes:
The 2014 growing season marked our third year in a row with drought conditions. Although December and January were dry, late rains in February through early April helped fill the reservoirs. A warm and windy spring brought early bud break to the vineyards with fruit development tracking two weeks ahead of normal. The summer months were warm, leading to balanced growth in the vineyard. September brought ideal weather with cool nights and warm afternoons. We slowly started picking our Oakville Cabernet at the end of the month, but a short heat wave in early October pushed everything into ripeness. We picked up the pace, and by mid-month we had the fruit crushed and in the tank.
2015 Vintage
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon – Single Vineyard
- Oakville Ridge, Napa, California
- Un-fined and unfiltered
- 24 months in 100% new French Oak
The 2015 Audacieux Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine deliberately made to emulate the style of fine Bordeaux and embody the tradition of patience and excellence but also to embrace the fruit, texture and roundness that has made Napa wine so famous. The 2015 Audacieux is an extracted full bodied wine with layers of berry and dark stone fruit, a long finish and elegant tannins that lend to a round and soft mouthfeel. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine is balanced and approachable now but will age well for decades and will continue to evolve with time.
Winemakers Notes:
This wine is both expressive and elegant in nature. The 2015 Audacieux rivals the characteristics of the finest Bordeaux yet couples the best qualities of the most sought after Napa Cabernets. The tannins are soft yet bring structure, while the fruit rounds out the mid palate with spice and minerality, leading to a long and memorable finish sure to leave you wanting more. The flavors are deliberate yet subtle and not overpowering and the finish is long and includes notes of dark berries with soft yet attentive tannins. The overall mouth feel is round, soft and pleasing.
Vineyard Notes:
The 2015 vintage of Audacieux is Napa County single vineyard designate from a private estate on the top of Oakville Grade. This rugged hillside property just above Oakville is a very highly sought after terroir. At an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet this vineyard has a unique combination of clones planted to produce a wine that has a distinctive French style that is coupled with Napa fruit qualities.
Harvest Notes:
The 2015 growing season marked our third year in a row with drought conditions. A mild winter causing early bud break, followed by protracted bloom and unseasonably cool weather in spring, contributed to smaller grape clusters and variable crop size. The high temperatures in August and early September accelerated maturity and made the fruit from this vintage very flavorful. Overall yields were down but the grapes showed excellent phenolic development with big, rich, ripe fruit in balance with the tannins and the great color. This is a vintage of exceptional quality.
Audacieux – Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard
Audacieux Sugarloaf Mountain is a single vineyard and single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has deep berry flavors with a touch of dusty earth and spice. Elegant and balanced with plenty of structure, fruit and natural verve, this wine can be enjoyed for many years to come. Produced and hand crafted by Ron Allen and Winemaker Chris Taddei.
Vintages
2016 Vintage
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, Napa, California
- Un-fined and unfiltered
- Aged 18 Months in new and seasoned French oak
The 2016 Audacieux Sugarloaf Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine deliberately made to emulate the style of fine Bordeaux and embody the tradition of patience and excellence but also to embrace the fruit, texture and roundness that has made Napa wine so famous. The 2016 Audacieux is an extracted full bodied wine with layers of berry and dark stone fruit, a long finish and elegant tannins that lend to a round and soft mouthfeel. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine is balanced and approachable now but will age well for decades and will continue to evolve with time.
Tasting Notes:
Audacieux Sugarloaf Mountain is rich ruby garnet color in the glass. Clean and focused aromatics exude deep berry, leather, tobacco, spice and earth. The powerful yet refined flavors show dark cherry, cassis and blueberry with undertones of leather, plum and sage. The long satisfying finish exhibits warm blackberry, graphite and dusty earth with soft tannins and mouthwatering acidity. This wine is soft and round and has great balance with an ethereal quality. It is a great complement to steaks, lamb, aged cheeses, pan-seared duck breast and dark chocolate desserts.
Winemakers Notes:
This wine is both expressive and elegant in nature. The 2016 Audacieux rivals the characteristics of the finest Bordeaux yet couples the best qualities of the most sought after Napa Cabernets. The tannins are soft yet bring structure, while the fruit rounds out the mid palate with spice and minerality, leading to a long and memorable finish sure to leave you wanting more. The flavors are deliberate yet subtle and not overpowering and the finish is long and includes notes of dark berries with soft yet attentive tannins. The overall mouth feel is round, soft and pleasing.
Vineyard Notes:
The 2016 vintage of Audacieux is a Napa County single vineyard designate from the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard south of the Coombsville appellation. This vineyard offers a unique terroir for Bordeaux varietals in the Napa Valley. Unlike warmer vineyards up-valley, the climate of Sugarloaf naturally provides a longer hang-time resulting in profound color and flavor intensity. Combined with a southwestern exposure and a rock-laden soil harvesting the sun’s energy, this extraordinary terroir delivers the exceptional ripeness necessary for both the power and complexity required for great Cabernet. The 2016 vintage endowed Sugarloaf Mountain Cabernet with striking aromatic intensity, nuance and depth. 2016 is considered among the best vintages of the decade and comparable to the 2013s for top honors in Napa Cabernet.
Audacieux – Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Link Vineyard
Audacieux Knights Link is a single vineyard and single variety Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has flavors of dark cherry, blackberry and exotic spice. This wine is full bodied with soft tannins showing power, grace and elegance in every sip. Produced and hand crafted by Ron Allen and Winemaker Chris Taddei.
Vintages
2016 Vintage
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Sonoma County, Knights Link Vineyard
- Un-fined and unfiltered
- Aged 18 months in new French oak/li>
The 2016 Audacieux Knights Link Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine deliberately made to emulate the style of fine Bordeaux and embody the tradition of patience and excellence but also to embrace the fruit, texture and roundness that has made the finest Sonoma County wine so famous. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine is balanced and approachable now but will age well for over a decade and will continue to evolve with time.
Winemaker Notes:
Made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a vineyard on the west slope of the Knight Valley, our Knights Link Cabernet is highlighted by deep purple hued colors on the rim and classic aromas of ripe red and black fruits, unsweetened cocoa, cardamom, Asian spice with hints of cigar box and graphite. This wine is both bright and rich on the palate. The flavor profile exudes notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and exotic spice. Generous and full-bodied the tannins are soft and approachable, and adds to the wines finish. The end result is a wine that not only tastes great now, but worthy of aging in the cellar for more than a decade. Power, grace and elegance in every sip.
Food Pairing:
Hard cheeses, braised Asian ribs, seared Venison in a red wine reduction, garlic and spice rubbed lamb chops.
Harvest Notes:
The 2016 vintage was an excellent growing season, and started out as the previous four vintages; with a warm and dry winter. Above average temperatures and modest rainfall in the winter months brought a normal bud break in all growing regions. The main difference in 2016 was cooler temperatures in late February, and increasing rain totals in March that helped slow down vegetative growth. These events allowed for perfect maturation of the grape tannins and flavor development. Flowering happened under normal conditions with a slight cooling trend in May, which ultimately prevented blockbuster yields. Temperatures after fruit set were normal, but as veraison approached there were a few heat spikes that jumpstarted the ripening process. Weather in late August cooled, and by early September temperatures warmed up and dry conditions prevailed. The result was harvest was completed under ideal conditions by end of September. Overall, this 2016 vintage exhibits very pure flavors, with strong specific vineyard signatures.
Audacieux – Sonoma County Pinot Noir, King Arthur
Audacieux King Arthur is a single vineyard and single varietal Pinot Noir. This wine is medium bodied with subtle layers of red currant, cranberry and watermelon. Soft tannins dance on a lingering finish. Pure and compelling. Aged for 13 months in new French Oak. Produced and hand crafted by Ron Allen and Winemaker Chris Taddei.
Vintages
2017 Vintage
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Sonoma County, King Arthur
- Un-fined and unfiltered
- 13 Months in new and seasoned French oak/li>
The 2017 Audacieux King Arthur Pinot Noir is a wine deliberately made to emulate the style of fine Burgundy. It embodies the tradition of patience and excellence and embraces the fruit, texture and roundness that has made Sonoma County Pinot Noir so famous. The 2017 Audacieux is an elegant medium bodied wine with layers of red current, cranberry, watermelon and spice. It has delicate rose petal aromatics and soft tannins that lead to a round mouthfeel with a pure and compelling finish. This 100% Pinot Noir wine is balanced and approachable now but will age well and will continue to evolve with time.
Winemaker Notes:
This wine is both round in the mouth and elegant in nature. The 2017 Audacieux King Arthur rivals the characteristics of the finest Burgundy yet couples the best qualities of the most sought after Sonoma Pinot Noirs. The flavors are deliberate yet subtle and not overpowering, with food friendly acidity and a long finish which includes notes of dark berries, spice and earth. The overall mouth feel is round, soft and pleasing.
Vineyard Notes:
The 2017 vintage of Audacieux King Arthur is a Sonoma County single vineyard designate from a private estate on the top of Knights Valley. This rugged hillside property above Knights Valley is an incredible and unique Pinot Noir terroir. At an elevation of approximately 700 feet this vineyard has a unique combination of clones planted to produce a wine that has a distinctive French style that is coupled with Sonoma fruit qualities.
Harvest Notes:
Record-breaking winter rainfall kicked off the season, filling the water table to capacity and replenishing soils. A mild spring brought bud break at the normal time, and produced small berries with excellent color. A hot summer culminated in a Labor Day weekend heat wave that caused some vintners to move up their harvest dates by a week or so. The grapes endured the heat and once cooler weather arrived, fruit was able to mature at a gradual pace. Our 2017 King Arthur Pinot Noir was harvested the second week of September which preceded significant rainfall the next week. Because this fruit was picked prior to the October fires the wine was unaffected and the fruit has excellent color, pronounced flavors and high quality.