Nose
Aromas of fresh strawberry, raspberry and hints of delicate white flowers burst forth from the glass in our 2014 Small Lot Howell Mountain Zinfandel.
Palate
Rich flavors of creme brule, rhubarb, Early Grey tea and orange peel mingle and spread across the palate. With integrated, round tannins the wine has a rich mouthfeel and good structure.
Growing Conditions
The grapes for our 2014 Small Lot Howell Mountain Zinfandel are from a single vineyard in the Howell Mountain AVA. The volcanic soil has excellent drainage and the grapes were harvested from a shadier side of the vineyard to avoid over exposure to the sun. A hint of Petite Sirah was included for flavor intensity and complexity, creating a wine that is worthy of inclusion in our limited production Small Lot Collection.
Vintners are using words like "quality," "depth of flavor" and "excellent" to describe the 2014 vintage in Napa Valley. Many also noted "perfect weather," "abundant crop," and "good fortune".
Harvest
Harvest started and ended earlier than usual. The first grapes for sparkling wine picked on July 30 and nearly all harvest activity was completed by the third week in October - for many a full two weeks ahead of the normal harvest schedule.
Winemaking
The grapes for our 2014 Small Collection Oakville Zinfandel were hand sorted and fermented on the skins for 19 days with pump-overs performed twice daily. After fermentation thae wine was gently pressed, racked and aged in French oak barrels for 13 months.
Aging
100% barrel aged for 13 months in French oak, 40% new
Food Pairing
Enjoy it with grilled duck breast or BBQ ribs.
