Nose
This wine is a classic old-vine Zinfandel, and opens with enchanting
aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries and white pepper.
Palate
On the
palate, there is a hint of oak accompanied by notes of black
cardamom, ginger and rhubarb. The finish is slightly sweet, round
and lively, making it the perfect pairing for rich cheeses, duck, and
roasted lamb.
Growing Conditions
The 2015 growing season in Napa Valley started out with
unseasonably warm temperatures in the late winter and early spring.
This resulted in an early bud break and bloom. Colder temperatures
in May (during the peak of bloom) caused uneven fruit set which
ultimately resulted in much smaller crop in 2015, compared to both
average yields and also the three abundant years that preceded it.
The harvest was one of the earliest on record in Napa Valley,
beginning on July 22 with the picking of grapes for sparkling wine,
and concluding for most all vintners and growers in the valley by
mid-October.
Fruit for our Napa Valley Zinfandel were sourced from a single
vineyard in a small valley on the eastern part of Napa. This cooler
location is ideal for Zinfandel as it can ripen without raisoning and
maintain a fruity freshness.
Harvest
The grapes were hand-picked and hand
sorted.
Winemaking
Gently pressed off early to preserve the bright
fruit aromatics.
Aging
The wine was then aged for 10 months in 43% new
French oak. Tightly grained barrels yield their oak characteristics in
a more deliberate fashion for a consistent, well-rounded aging
process.
