We are exceedingly slow to release zinfandels. While that is a bit of a handicap (most of our restaurant accounts are asking when the 2005ís will be out), we do it for a very good reason. Our zinfandels are made, in the words of Robert Parker, ìin a divergent style.î We have great fruit sources and we try to make wines from them that reflect the character and terroir of those sites. Because of this the wines are often closed in and a little backward for the first couple of years after bottling. The upside is that although they are slow starters, they are in the race for the long haul, revealing year after year new layers of complexity and interest. This wine is a case in point. A year ago it was, while drinkable, no showstopper. It is lighter in alcohol than some prior years (still over 14% but moderate by todayís standards), the fruit is typical of the vineyards, showing a bit of pepper. With excellent acidity, light to moderate tannins, and medium bodied it is beginning to show some complexity. Our philosophy is to allow the vineyards to speak, and toward that end, this wine was aged in older French oak barrels to preserve the character of the fruit. It should continue to improve with bottle age for several years and hold for many more after.
597 cases bottled.
