Krutz Family Cellars stands out among the many fantastic wine producers Wines ‘Til Sold Out – WTSO.com has featured over the years, demonstrating a commitment to the highest quality in every bottle crafted from California’s Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Monterey County regions. While there’s no substitute for actually tasting, learning about the backgrounds of our favorite wineries will only increase the appreciation we have for their efforts. Read on to find out what makes Krutz Family Cellars and their wines so special.
Their Story
Fred and Cherry Krutz discovered a passion for fine wine while visiting The Cheese Shop in Carmel, California – the very place their son Patrick would end up working years later while training under top wineries in Monterey County. During this time, Patrick’s foray into “garage wine” allowed him to focus and improve on the winemaking techniques that would become indispensable after launching Krutz Family Cellars with a limited sixty-case production in 2003.
The initial plan to only vinify one ton of grapes every year quickly required modification as word spread of the magnificent Krutz wines. Wine Enthusiast ranked the 2006 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon as one of the “Best of the Year” in 2010, calling it a “spectacular wine” and “great achievement” in their 97-point review. As the releases garnered more acclaim, Bryan and Cole Krutz teamed up with their brother Patrick in 2011 to share ownership of the winery, which ultimately moved to Sonoma County. The magnolia flower on their wine labels pays homage to the family’s Mississippi roots.
Vineyard Sources
Through a strong network of relationships over the years, Krutz Family Cellars was able to not only procure fruit from top vineyards but, in some cases, even manage the farming practices of the blocks reserved for their production. With ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III,’ one of the most historically significant and celebrated in Rutherford and all of Napa, Krutz maintains full control over their B2b Heritage block, yielding impeccably balanced, complex Cabernet Sauvignon. Other prominent grape sources from the past and present include Atlas Peak’s ‘Stagecoach Vineyard,’ ‘Soberanes’ in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and ‘Martinelli’ of the Russian River Valley.
Winemaking Approach
Once the winery receives grapes after harvest (typically at night), Krutz Family Cellars give them the utmost care and attention. A combination of sorting by hand, fermentation in new Taransaud French oak, and exclusive use of free-run wine ensure superior expressions that marry beautifully with barrel aging. Through these techniques and others, Krutz produces wine with a unique stylistic signature.
Wine Highlights
Krutz Family Cellars ‘Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III’ Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
This bottling replaced the ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon as the winery’s flagship wine. Receiving 94-point scores from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck, the 2017 vintage captures the classic Napa Valley Cabernet spirit from one of Rutherford’s most revered vineyards. With its ripe and powerful dark fruit, sleek yet dusty tannic structure, and gorgeously integrated French oak nuances, this cellar-worthy red will gradually evolve for years to come.
Krutz Family Cellars ‘Soberanes Vineyard’ Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Among the coveted vineyard holdings of the Pisoni and Franscioni families in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Soberanes benefits from the local fog, winds, and proximity to the coast. The sensitive Pinot Noir grape ripens slowly here, providing a foundation for aromatic, vibrant, and elegant reds. Through complete destemming, cold-soaking, and refinement in a portion of new French oak, Krutz achieves a graceful, food-friendly expression.
Krutz Family Cellars ‘Soberanes Vineyard’ Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay
Krutz utilizes Old Wente and Montrachet clones from Soberanes Vineyard to develop their barrel-fermented Chardonnay, a white wine further enriched by sur-lie and French oak aging. Both opulent and refreshing, it skillfully balances bright fruit and floral notes with subtle hints of toast and spice.
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Photography courtesy of Krutz Family Cellars.