2009 Zinfandel

Explosive aromas of ripe berries, fresh lilac and white pepper that demand attention are mirrored in the lush and juicy flavors of fresh brambly blackberries and boysenberry preserve. Fine-grain French oak adds creaminess to the texture, while the American oak contributes notes of spice that linger through a long, rich finish. Ideal cellar time is two to seven years from vintage date. Pair with short ribs, grilled pork, fresh figs and blue cheeses.

Sourced primarily from the Estate Vineyard; Rhyolitic Ash and Alluvial Wash soils at 220 feet elevation; Single eight-and-a-half-acre block planted 1976 La Paz clone; Yield 2.0 tons/acre

Harvested by hand in cool morning hours; Destemmed to stainless steel fermenters; Yeast strains Prise de Mousse; 12-day primary fermentation; Gentle pump-overs throughout fermentation; Free run separated from press-fraction; After single racking in tank transferred to barrels; Barrels stirred weekly through malolactic fermentation; Filtered to bottle. Oak Regimen: 15 months in 50% French, 50% American oak; 35% new

The 2009 growing season lent itself well to producing some of our finest wines to date. Springtime was pleasantly warm and mild as flowering progressed, with only calm winds coming through the Petaluma gap. The heat of the spring and early summer was comfortably average as the vines developed a strong canopy. We progressed through summer and early fall with moderate weather that was both a winegrower and winemaker’s dream.

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