MEET ENFIELD WINE COMPANY--HAND-MADE ORIGINALITY IN TINY QUANTITIES

John Lockwood, a believer in California soils, a maker of wine, a storyteller. John Lockwood is the winemaker and founder of Enfield Wine Co.

“We do not subscribe to the ideal of the perfect wine, but to the notion that the very best wines tell a unique story.”

I love this quote, and I love these wines. They really do show a sense of place and terroir in each bottle.  John practices low intervention along with taking care of where he gets his grapes. He only gets grapes from small independent growers, so he knows exactly how his grapes have been being cared for.  

One of the most important vineyards where two of the wines come from is Heron Lake Vineyard, located high above the city of Napa. It catches a cool breeze coming off San Pablo Bay as it rises up the Vaca Mountains.  Volcanic soils and the combination of coastal climate and rugged spoil; this profile creates wines that express a combination of freshness, acidity, texture and minerality.  John is able to use these vines because it is managed by David Mahaffey who gave John his first job in the wine industry. John also had a good stint with Failla wines, another store favorite!  If you enjoy Failla wines, I urge you to check out the Enfield Pinot Noir.

Enfield 2019 Pinot Noir, Heron Lake, Wild Horse Valley

This wine is 50% whole cluster and 50% destemmed and foot treading with native yeast fermentation, and not finned or filtered before bottling. This wine has a sweet spice from the stem inclusion. The palate is mineral driven from the volcanic soil complexity. The nose gives off hints of rose petal, red fruits, forest floor, citrus rind, and black tea. Fine tannins with bright red fruit, hint of forest floor and waves of black tea give this wine an immense amount of depth and complexity.

$42.99 per bottle

Enfield 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast

90% Cabernet and 10% Merlot and only 200cs produced of this wine. This wine is full destemmed before fermentation but 10-20% of the stems are added back for texture and aromatics. 3 weeks of native yeast ferment occurs for 11 months in a mixture of 500L French oak Puncheons and smaller barrels. Unfined and unfiltered before bottling. This wine comes from 3 cool climate coastal sites. A juice core of cherry fruit is balanced with mild herbal notes and stoney texture, this wine is vibrant and alive!

$51.99 per bottle

Enfield 2019 Chardonnay Citrine, California

Citrine is a gemstone of yellow quartz. This Chardonnay is made with eh intensional of balancing golden California sun and a gentle kiss of minerality. This wine comes from 4 different vineyards all with an average age of almost 40 years old! The grapes were gently whole cluster pressed and barrel fermented with native yeasts and went through full malolactic fermentation then aged on its own lees for 12 months in barrel, then blended and bottled unfined and unfiltered. This wine sreally shows the golden sunshine we get here in California. A wine full of tropical fruits and floral aromatics with sticking acid and subtle creaminess. Juicy, mineral and a little bit of salinity with a wave of savory on the finish. This wine gives off a sense of finesse, intense but not heavy.

$27.99 per bottle

Enfield 2018 Chardonnay, Heron Lake, Wild Horse Valley

This wine is the more serious of the two Chardonnay’s. Acid, depth and refined quartz minerality. This wine has a nerve that dances through the glass. Chamomile, salinity, honey, peach skins, pollen and a dollop of cream finishing with a pop of minerality.  

$42.99 per bottle