Aromas of dark fruit, blackberry, marionberry, and tobacco envelop the nose. The palate combines sweet dewberry, cassis, and leather notes, leading to a smooth and silky finish.
The 1,000-foot altitude of this 14-acre Zinfandel and Petite Sirah vineyard provides ideal growing conditions and magical views. The sustainably farmed vines drill deep into the mountainside in a desperate search for water that the shallow Franciscan and Suther loam topsoil does not retain. As a result, the stressed vines grow smaller berries with a deeper concentration of flavors. The warmer nights and breeze-filled days encourage further flavor and tannin development while preserving acidity, resulting in a balanced wine. The inversion layer over Lake Sonoma keeps the fog out of the vineyard, allowing for a little more sun exposure and cool breezes keep the grapes cool.
Vineyard Details
Soil: Rocky Suther and Franciscan Loam
Aspect: Southwestern
Elevation: 1,000 feet
Planted: 1997
Clone: Rockpile
Rootstock: 1103P
Trellis: VSP
Harvest: September 2023
Analysis
Alc.: 15.1%
pH: 3.65
T.A.: 0.68 gm/100ml
RS: 0.02%
