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Wine Details
Price:
$18.00 per bottle
Description:
The 2002 vintage brought us one large step closer to our goal of sourcing all our Zinfandel from our immediate Glen Ellen neighborhood. 60% of the blend came from the two vineyards which we hope will be our primary sources of Zinfandel for many years to come, Meeks Hilltop Ranch and Shumahi Ranch. The balance of the blend is comprised of Zinfandel from Indian Springs Ranch, Englandcrest, and Zagari Vineyard, along with small bits of Englandcrest Syrah, and Syrah, Merlot and Alicante Bouschet from our Estate vineyard. The combination of small amounts of other varietals was carefully chosen to add richness, roundness and structure to the wine without diminishing Zinfandel character. The aromas are typical Zin: berry and cherry fruit, hints of black pepper and other spice. The fruit aromas intensify with aeration, bringing with them hints of chocolate and roasted coffee, licorice, cloves, cinnamon, orange peel and brown sugar. The entry is smooth and supple, medium bodied. Cherry, blackberry and cranberry fruit are the dominant flavors. The tannins are quite soft, leading to a long, smooth, slightly tart finish. This Zinfandel is ready to enjoy now, and we don’t recommend cellaring it for more than two or three years. It is very fruity, has great balance, very moderate alcohol (for Zin), and isn’t buried under tons of new oak as is way too common these days, so it should pair excellently with foods that might be overpowered by a bigger wine. We aren’t saying that this Zin is an insipid lightweight, just that it has great balance, elegance, and more finesse than usual.
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Varietal Definition
Zinfandel:
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California wine vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the 'heel' of Italy. It is typically made into a robust red wine. Its taste depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruits like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler areas such as the Napa Valley, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are more common in wines made in warmer areas such as Sonoma County. Many Zinfandels come from head pruned ‘Old Vines’. ‘Old Vine’ is generally understood to mean a vine that is more than 50 years old and that produces less than three tons per acre. ‘Head Pruning’ is an old European style of pruning that trains the vine into the shape of a goblet. It requires no wires or other complex trellis systems. Head pruning spreads the fruit uniformly along the vine and allows light penetration.In the USA a semi-sweet Rosé (blush-style) wine called ‘White Zinfandel’ has achieved widespread popularity. In fact, this popularity has so outstripped all other forms that many fans think there is actually a grape called “White Zinfandel” (there isn’t)!
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Alicante Bouschet:
Minor grape originating from a 19th century cross using the Aramon and ancient Teinturier native vine, resulting in a hybrid varietal. This in turn was crossed with the Grenache to give the named grape. Widely grown in France, California and Spain. In the latter country it is known as Garnacha Tintorera. In the cool Champagne region of France it is the main grape used to make the sweet "vin mousseux" - (sparkling wine). Often known as "Alicante" for short. Elsewhere the canned juice is used by many amateur winemakers for fermenting homemade wines.
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Syrah:
Syrah is the eight hundred pound gorilla of Rhone grapes! In the vineyard and the winery, Syrah is typically an easy grape to work with - healthy, early ripening, resistant to mildew and rot; suitable for winemaking in a variety of styles. The wines from Syrah are tannic without being harsh. The wines will have a taste and smell of dark blue fruit like blackberries and blackcurrant, with a strong spicy side where one can find freshly ground pepper and other spices. Syrah is famous for its part in the French blends, such as Côtes du Rhone and Châteauneuf du Pape.
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Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.
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