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91 Points | Wine Spectator
90 Points | Wine Advocate
92 Points | Sommelier's Choice
Gold Medal | Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Tasting Notes
Crafted in a full-bodied and elegant style, this Zinfandel has deep, intense color along with spicy aromas of the cherry galette, clove, ground espresso bean, and a touch of lavender that precede mouth-filling flavors of dark chocolate, wild blackberry, and dried cranberry. Rich and velvety in texture, this is an opulent wine with a long finish.
Vintage Notes
The 2017 growing season started out wet with record-breaking rainfall refreshing our vineyards after several dry years. The mild spring led to a timely bud break and good fruit set, followed by ideal conditions of cool mornings and warm, sunny days throughout the summer months. Our first grapes were harvested and “blessed” on August 25. A few days of intense heat at the beginning of September sped up ripening throughout the region. Well-timed picks during the month meant the majority of the fruit was in by the first week of October.
Vineyard Notes
We source the fruit for this Reserve wine from the northern end of Dry Creek Valley, a renowned Zinfandel growing region. The Zinfandel was picked in mid-August when flavors were at their peak. Added to the blend was Petite Sirah picked in mid-September. Its thick skins and hefty tannins add color and texture to the wine while also contributing balance and length.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes were hand-sorted and underwent an extended cold-soak for five days. Infrequent pump-overs during fermentation allowed for greater color extraction and the ability to control tannin levels. We then complemented this fleshy wine by aging it in 60% new oak barrels for 20 months to achieve full integration.
WINEMAKER
COLLECTION
GRAPE VARIETIES
14% Petite Sirah
3% Syrah
