This enticing Sonoma County wine highlights a bright red-fruit and spice expression of Zinfandel. The aromas are ripe and appealing, offering layers of strawberry jam, raspberry and sweet vanilla, as well as hints of chocolate-covered cherries and white pepper. On the palate, the entry is full and balanced with lovely cranberry notes supported by the subtle influence of fine oak.
Though the 2009 growing season presented certain challenges—from early shatter to late-season rain—a thoughtful response in the vineyards yielded smaller-than-normal crops of high-quality fruit. This response included aggressive leafing, an early thinning protocol and a heavy field sort to select only the most desirable grapes.
Harvest Dates: September 5 — October 25, 2009
Average Sugar at Harvest: 26.5° Brix
Varietal Content
100% Zinfandel
Cooperage
100% American Oak
Barrel Aging: 12 Months
Age of Barrels: 30% new, 70% second vintage
Production/Technical Data
Alcohol: 14.5%
0.61 g/100 ml titratable acidity
12 days fermentation at 80°F
pH: 3.70
Bottled: December 2010
Released: January 2011
90 Points
With aromas of spiced cherries, raspberries and pencil shavings, this juicy Zin is accented by soft vanilla. More>
4 Stars - Excellent
Full bodied and quite ripe in flavor, this is a smoothly textured, relatively rich Zin, with black currant, toast, pepper, mint and oak aromas/flavors and a lightly oaky finish. More>