Last vintage seems to be 2008. Website offline. No current info indicating still an active producer.
Temple Family Vineyards released their first commercial vintage in 2004. Four generations of family roots go back to East Texas dating from the late 1800’s where they were among the first businesses to sustainably manage and farm timber. In fact, they have been recognized and have received a number of awards for their conservation and farming practices. Fast forward to 1987 and to a different agriculture crop with wine grapes. This is when the first family member moved to the Napa area and purchased hillside land with vineyards just east of the Silverado Trail (near what was already prime planted vineyard land).
In 1995 they purchased a large ranch in the Pope Valley area (Lakespring Ranch), east of Napa Valley and planted part of this to vineyards. This was before Pope Valley had the wine growing reputation that it has today and providing fruit to other wineries was a harder sale. Not so today – Temple Family continues to sell the majority of their fruit to very high end boutique Napa area wineries and Pope Valley is slated at some point to become its own Sub Appellation of Napa.
The Temple Family has been instrumental in working on getting this sub appellation approved. Today, the winery is run by a brother sister team. Both their Napa and Pope Valley vineyards are managed by Arthur Spencer, son of the owner. Their organic and sustainable farming practices continue from their timber background and are now applied to the vineyards. In addition Arthur has a background in soils and also as a wildlife biologist. Huge valley oaks were left with the vineyards being planted well outside their shade and root limits so as not to competitively interfere. Having the space to do this is ideal as the quality of the grapes are not affected at all. With a monoculture crop such as wine grapes, the Temple Family knows the benefits to having healthy soils and employing overall sustainable farming practices.
As of press time, they specialize in a single vintage 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Total production is typically under 1000 cases. All fruit for their wine comes from the Pope Valley vineyards. Cabernet Clones 7 & 8 are used in this wine which are clones that produce incredibly small berries with rich concentrated fruit flavors. Despite their vineyards being mostly flatland, their vineyard has a reputation of producing “mountain styled fruit” in a valley location! Pope Valley vineyards have long hang time and the fruit generally ripens very evenly. Their wines are unfined and unfiltered for maximum color and flavor.
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon has a nice nose of violets, lavender and just a hint of pine pitch and as the wine opens up the bouquet becomes more fruit driven. This fruit continues to the palate including flavors of black cherry that lead to a very long finish. The 2005 (current release) is a wine that is very rich and concentrated in flavor. It is a little bit more jammy than the 2004 with a nose that is more fruit driven. The palate contains a depth of flavor including plum, blackberry, black licorice. Towards the finish you will pick up some interesting mineralities (terroir driven) as well as subtle hints of oak. Velvety but structured tannins anchor the beautiful finish. Temple Family has plans to produce other wines including a Cabernet Franc and possible a red blend.
NOTE: This review has been archived.
REASON: Stopped producing wine commercially, still sells fruit from their vineyards to other producers
We helped your wife Claire and in laws October 25, 2014 when they had a flat tire going down the mountain because of the falling rocks on the road from the night of rain. Your wife was taking them to Napa for a shuttle to catch a flight in SFO. She was walking down to get cell reception. We picked her up and brought her back up to your in laws where two men where changing the tire. She said you owned Temple Winery and had to cancel a big party that day. Hope she got to the airport on time. Glad to have helped. Saw your winery is closed now, sorry to hear that. Hope I have the right winery, near Rustridge Ranch, that’s where we stayed two nights. We are from Ohio and know we can’t get your wine here. Just glad to have assisted you and next time we are out your way, two years probably, maybe we can drink a glass of wine somewhere together. Mary and Tom Begley
I just opened our last bottle of 2006 Cabernet. Your wine is our favorite and only for special occasions. Would love to find more.
Ray – yea, I wish they were still producing. Nearly 15 years of work I’ve archived more then 200 Napa based wineries/producers who are not commercially producing anymore for whatever reasons. And at least 100+ I never had a chance to review who are not producing anymore. The turnover in this business is really remarkable. Especially considering these are quality producers.