93 points Wine Spectator: "Refined and a bit brooding at first, this slowly unveils itself with refined and multilayered raspberry and cherry flavors laced with cinnamon and rose petal. Finishes with fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2028. 298 cases made.
2014 vintage notes
We really fell for the '14 Tonnelier. It's lovable in every way. Fresh raspberries from the vine intertwine with cherries, wrapped in cinnamon lace. Silky and delicate at first, with sneaky length and persistence. A classic Ribbon Ridge bramble note creates a perfect partnership of wildness and elegant refinement. We spent four days with the bottle and it drank well from first pour to last drop. Sure, it will improve with time in the cellar but we see no reason to wait! - Marcus and Andy
2012 vintage notes
Youthfully vibrant and inviting red fruit, cinnamon, and herbs prevail on the nose followed by rich dark raspberry and a balanced melange of floral, forest, and vineyard complexities. The Tonnelier opened up beautifully on day two of tasting, and I suggest at least 2-3 years in the cellar to really see this baby singing. - Andy
2011 vintage notes
93 points Wine Spectator: "Sleek, vivid and open-textured, this is a wine of tremendous presence, offering currant, plum and floral flavors that float engagingly over refined tannins. The finish doesn’t quit. Drink now through 2021."—H.S.
About the Wine's Name
Cuvee du Tonnelier can be translated as "blend of the barrel maker" and is named for Doug's ancestors in France, who were barrel makers (Tonnelier became Tunnell,) and to honor for his father.
Brick House's Tonnelier comes from a section of the Estate vineyard planted in 1990. In this part of the site, the vines were planted directly in the ground. Usually these days, vineyard owners graft the actual vine that produces the grapes to the rooted part of a vine that is resistant to disease, for the most part, to the endemic problem of many vineyards, Phyloxera. These older vines are called "self rooted." It is said that self rooted vines make wines with more intense flavors that convey more of the unique qualities of the soil.