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Double Gold Medal | Sonoma County Harvest Fair | Sept 2018

Tasting Notes

This is a full-bodied wine with classic Zinfandel aromas of dark berries, cracked black pepper, and spicy notes that precede multi-layered flavors of crushed, wild blackberry, dark cherry preserves, and warm baking spices. Lush and rich with firm tannins and a long, lingering finish, this wine is a show stopper.

Vintage Notes

2015 brought an early and light harvest that began on August 10, the earliest date in St. Francis’ history. The year started out very warm and dry but then cool, damp weather in May hampered fruit set. Though the result was smaller, looser clusters on the vine, the warm and consistent summer that followed produced high-quality fruit with exceptional aromatics and concentrated flavors.

Vineyard Notes

Winemaker Katie Madigan sourced Zinfandel from three different vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, a region renowned for producing intense, concentrated Zinfandel. The wine is blended with Petite Sirah for additional structure and complexity.

Winemaker Notes

This wine showcases the best of Dry Creek Valley, from the valley floor to hilltop vineyards. The well-drained soils and fog patterns from the Pacific Ocean create perfect growing conditions for Zinfandel, resulting in smaller crops with highly concentrated, intense fruit. The grapes undergo a cold soak before fermentation to extract optimal color and aroma. After primary fermentation, the wine is pumped into French oak barrels, where it undergoes natural malolactic fermentation, followed by 16 months of aging.