The 2023 Vintage growing season yielded an extraordinary vintage. After a wet winter we started the season with moderate weather favorable for vine growth and fruit development. The summer was mild without any major heat events.
Veraison was a bit later than usual, and we enjoyed a long hang time and great maturity without rushing the harvest.
L’Orange 2023 is dark and intense in color with explosive aromatics of black cherry, holiday spices and cigar box.
On the palate it is rich and textural without being heavy, featuring an intense dark fruit profile mixed with graphite, creme de cassis, and a hint of sweetness. The finish is long, dense and vibrant with well-integrated tannins and acidity.
The 2023 L’Orange is already showing off in the glass but has the perfect balance for long aging potential. This is another great example of Napa Valley and the potential of crafting world class wines.
Production: 400 Cases
Varietals: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot
Vineyards: Oakville and Pritchard Hill
Aging: In oak barrels for approximately 18 months. Various forests & coopers, about 85% new French oak
Bottling Aging: 18 Months
Maturity: 20-25 years
The 2022 Tusk L’Orange is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petite Verdot. The vineyard selection comprises 70% from our Pritchard Hills vineyards, and the balance from our Oakville and Coombsville vineyards. Each lot was individually fermented, averaging 4 days of cold soak and 19 days on the skins. Aged in oak barrels for 20 months from various French coopers and forests to carefully match the terroir of each vineyard block, 90% new French Oak. This beautiful wine balances the elegance of our Pritchard Hill vineyard with just the right amount of Petite Verdot to provide enhanced structure and opulence. Our focus with this challenging vintage was to over-deliver and create a wine with an incredible palette of flavors. After tasting L’Orange, the result is spectacular, showcasing an extremely charming wine. This wine is solaire with dark berries, sweet ripe plum, creosote, tar, and spices. The mouthfeel is flowing, marked by a beautiful creme de cassis and ripe strawberries aromas and finishing with seductive and long tannins.
Production: 450 Cases
Varietals: Cabernet Savignon and Petite Verdot
Vineyards: Pritchard Hill
Aging: 20 months in new French Oak
Bottling Aging: 18 Months
Maturity: 20+ years
After 12 years of experimentation and evolution of Tusk L’Orange, with 3 produced vintages in 2009, 2016 and 2019, we are delighted to announce the upcoming release of our 4th vintage of Tusk L’Orange. The 2021 Tusk L’Orange is entirely composed of our Pritchard Hill vineyard, comprising 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Petite Verdot. Each lot was individually fermented, averaging 4 days of cold soak and 19 days on the skins.
Aged in oak barrels for 20 months, from various coopers and forests to carefully match the terroir of each vineyard block, 90% new French Oak.
This beautiful wine balances the elegance of our Pritchard Hill vineyard, with just the right amount of Petite Verdot to provide enhanced structure and opulence. The L’Orange is ink-like in color, with inviting aromas of fresh herbs, thyme and bay leaf, floral notes, garrigue, and crushed granite. The mouthfeel is multidimensional, showing lovely fleshiness with smooth tannins supported by density, and its huge energy. The wine has incredible balance and weight showcasing flavors of beautiful barrel spices, vanilla, chocolate-covered cherry, cassis, sweet tobacco and espresso bean.
This wine has a long extended finish giving a potential for great ageability, yet is already quite pleasing in its youth.
Production: 350 Cases
Varietals: Cabernet Savignon and Petite Verdot
Vineyards: Pritchard Hill
Aging: 20 months in new French Oak
Bottling Aging: 18 Months
Maturity: 20+ years
L’Orange is the name we gave to our new label that is a blend of different Bordeaux varietals dependent on our master winemaking team’s discretion each year. The name L’Orange comes from the only accent color in Tusk’s black-and-ivory-dominated color scheme. We associate orange with warmth and creativity, so we thought it would be perfect for a rare new addition to our close-knit Tusk family.
We fell in love with this creation from our initial 2016 Tusk L’Orange vintage and have patiently been awaiting the appropriate time for 2019 Tusk L’Orange’s release. That time is now. The 2019 Tusk L’Orange is a gorgeous Napa Valley blend built on both Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The L’Orange sits well apart from our flagship Tusk Cabernet in profile but stands proudly alongside it in quality. It is beautifully dark, almost garnet in color, and with time in the glass, reveals complex aromas of dark plums, tobacco leaf, thyme, forest floor, and cherries. Showing lovely fleshiness, it has a seamless finish ideal for early drinking but with a stout structure that makes it perfect for a stretch in the cellar.
Production: 250 Cases
Varietals: Cabernet Savignon and Petite Verdot
Vineyards: Oakville & Pritchard Hill
Aging: 30 months in new French Oak
Bottling Aging: 24 Months
Maturity: 20+ years
Our newest member of the Tusk family, Tusk L’Orange.
L’Orange is the name we are giving to a wine we may produce from time to time when inspiration strikes. The name L’Orange comes from the only accent color in Tusk’s black-and-ivory dominated color scheme. We associate orange with warmth and creativity, so we thought it would be perfect for a rare new addition to our close-knit Tusk family.
We fell in love with this creation from our 2016 vintage and have patiently been awaiting the appropriate time for its release. A gorgeous Napa Valley blend built on both Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the 2016 L’Orange sits well apart from Tusk Cabernet in profile but stands proudly alongside it in quality.
L’Orange shows off its mastery of Bordeaux varietals consisting of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Cabernet Franc, and 14% Petit Verdot. It’s beautifully dark, almost garnet in color, and with time in the glass, reveals complex aromas of dark plums, tobacco leaf, thyme, forest floor, and cherries. Please decant the wine for 90 minutes minimum as this is still very youthful.
There is no better introduction to L’Orange than the spectacular 2016 vintage.
