Lo-Fi - 'Clos Mullet' - Trousseau - Santa Barbara, CA - 2024

@lofiwine

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Varietal: Trousseau Vineyard: Clos Mullet (Los Alamos) Appellation: Santa Barbara County Fermentation: Destemmed. 100% natural primary and secondary; pressed after 2 weeks. Barrels: 1200L Austrian Oak Foudre Aging: Ten months Production: 130 Cases.

Notes on the Producer

Lo-Fi’s ethos is to embrace the unpredictable and uncontrollable factors in vintage and vinification, much like an audiophiles derive pleasure from the clicks, pops, and hiss of their favorite vinyl records. The duo behind Lo-Fi, Mike Roth and Craig Winchester, has built vineyard connections and winemaking chops that put them in a position to deftly guide the fermentation process of these vibrant wines without manipulations or additions. Lo-Fi is marked by easy drinking, low alcohol, neutral barrel—if any—oak, native yeasts, little or no sulfur or other interventions that hide the fruit or the vintage that spawned it. Nothing added and nothing taken away. Lo-Fi wines began quietly at the time Mike Roth was working at Martian Ranch and Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. Roth also had winemaking jobs at Grigich Hills and Saddelback. But one harvest at Martian offered Roth the opportunity to work with some left over fruit. He wasn’t planning anything serious or long-term, just a glou-glou wine for himself and friends. The project continued with the partnership of Craig Winchester (assistant winemaker at Martian Ranch then) and a few harvests went by with the two making more and more to the point that they had a small inventory of wines. Things were ramping up and the wines were getting really good. Mike Roth launched Lo-Fi Wines in 2014 and continued production while working as winemaker with Coquelicot Estate whose wines shared the Lo-Fi spirit. Mike Roth and Craig Winchester continue Lo-Fi Wines as a high-priority passion project and business while maintaining their winemaking “day jobs.” In fact, Roth’s relationship with Coquelicot continues today with the Coquelicot vineyards as the majority source of Lo-Fi’s fruit. Today, the wines of Lo-Fi are vibrant and fun. They are leading the way for a new generation of California winemakers that aren’t seeking points or collectors, but getting back to the roots of what make wine exciting and enjoyable. - T. Edwards Wine

Grapes & Style

Trousseau

Trousseau is an old Jura red grape, also found in parts of Portugal and Spain under names like Bastardo or Merenzao. In the Jura, it’s usually a pale but structured red, often more about perfume, spice, and savory detail than raw fruit or color.

In the vineyard, Trousseau needs warmer sites than Poulsard and can be demanding to grow. It buds early, ripens relatively late, and tends to do best in well-exposed vineyards where it can develop flavor without losing freshness. It’s not widely planted, which is part of why good examples feel distinctive.

In the glass, Trousseau often shows red cherry, wild strawberry, pepper, dried herbs, earth, and a slightly ferrous or savory edge. It can look light but carry more tannin and structure than expected. The best versions have that lovely Jura combination of delicacy, spice, and quiet grip.