Trione Henry's Red Blend

Trione Henry's Red Blend is a Bordeaux-style red wine from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, bottled at approximately 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 94 points by The Tasting Panel for the 2018 vintage, this five-grape blend anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot has earned consistent critical praise across multiple vintages.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14%  |  Origin: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Bordeaux-Style Red Blend  |  Winery: Trione Vineyards and Winery

Production & Heritage

Trione Vineyards and Winery farms estate vineyards in Alexander Valley, one of Sonoma County's most acclaimed appellations for Bordeaux varieties. Henry's Blend is composed of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec — all hand harvested, sorted, and sent directly to small open-top fermentation tanks. The winery employs a distinctive cap irrigation device during fermentation that introduces air as free-run wine circulates over the cap, a technique designed to bind tannins with color compounds while supporting yeast health. Each variety is fermented and aged separately, then blended after 12 months of maturation to achieve the final cuvée.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe plums and black currants, building into layers of mocha, clove, and a savory thread of burnt sage. An herbaceous undercurrent of thyme lends additional complexity.

Taste: The entry is rich and fleshy, with blueberry, cherry cream, and black cherry flavors spreading across the mid-palate. Full-bodied and generously textured, the wine transitions into darker tones of cassis, blackberry jam, and dark chocolate. Tannins are polished and layered — sandy in grip but silky in overall impression.

Finish: The finish is long, toasty, and seemingly endless, with lingering notes of leather, mocha, and warm baking spices. A subtle floral accent lifts the close, preventing any heaviness from settling in.

How to Drink Henry's Blend

Henry's Blend shows best at cellar temperature (60–65°F) with 30 minutes of decanting to open up its layered aromatics. It drinks beautifully on its own and handles a splash of structure-softening cocktail treatment well. A Sangria Roja benefits from the wine's dark fruit intensity and spice backbone. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) leans into the blend's plush sweetness for an approachable summer drink. A classic Mulled Wine preparation amplifies the existing clove and baking spice notes naturally present in the blend.

Best For

• Bordeaux-blend enthusiasts exploring top-tier Alexander Valley expressions
• Hosting a dinner party centered around hearty red meat or braised dishes
• Gifting a wine lover who appreciates structured, layered California reds
• Building a cellar with age-worthy Sonoma County wines at a compelling value

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Henry's Blend taste like? Henry's Blend delivers rich dark fruit — plum, black cherry, and blueberry — layered with mocha, clove, and dark chocolate, all supported by silky, polished tannins and a long, toasty finish.

How does Henry's Blend compare to other Alexander Valley Bordeaux-style blends? Henry's Blend uses all five classic Bordeaux varieties, giving it broader complexity than many Alexander Valley reds that lean heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon alone. Its 94-point score from The Tasting Panel and Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (2016 vintage) place it among the appellation's most critically recognized blends.

Is Henry's Blend good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the wine's full body, creamy texture, and extended finish make it a standout for unhurried, glass-in-hand drinking, especially after a brief decant to let the aromatics fully develop.

Where is Henry's Blend made? Henry's Blend is produced by Trione Vineyards and Winery in Alexander Valley, a sub-appellation within Sonoma County, California, prized for its warm days, cool nights, and gravelly soils ideal for Bordeaux grape varieties.

What foods pair well with Henry's Blend? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's herbal sage and thyme notes. Braised short ribs echo its dark fruit richness and velvety texture. Aged Gouda or Gruyère match its toasty, savory depth. Mushroom risotto mirrors the earthy undertones, while dark chocolate desserts align with the mocha and cocoa finish.

What sizes does Henry's Blend come in? Henry's Blend is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Henry's Blend worth the price? Henry's Blend positions as a mid-to-upper-tier Alexander Valley red that consistently scores 92–94 points from respected critics, delivering estate-grown, five-variety complexity that competes with blends at significantly higher price points.

Why Henry's Blend?

What separates Henry's Blend from the crowded field of California red blends is the precision of its winemaking — particularly the proprietary cap irrigation technique during fermentation, which builds color-tannin integration at a level most open-top fermentations cannot achieve. The result is a wine that drinks opulently yet remains structurally sound, a balance reflected in scores of 94 points from The Tasting Panel and 92 points from both James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast. As a true five-variety Bordeaux blend from estate Alexander Valley fruit, it represents a style that demands both vineyard diversity and blending skill. Few wines in this appellation offer the same breadth of variety, critical validation, and textural polish at a comparable tier.