2012 Russian River Valley "Saitone Ranch" Zinfandel
97% Zinfandel
3% Mixed Black Varieties (Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Petit Bouschet)
Our 2011 Saitone Ranch Zinfandel was one of my favorite Zinfandels of that vintage. And so it is again in 2012. Unlike in 2011, we picked and fermented the block of teinturiers (Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, and Petit Bouschet) separately. The following spring, we blended in a small portion of these teinturiers to represent approximately 3% of the final wine. We liked how it brought the palate into better focus. Bottled unfined and with no filtration.
Tasting Note:
Medium-dark to dark ruby-purple. Black raspberry, licorice and dried orange peel greet the nose. On the palate, a potpourri of berry fruit with a soupçon of Asian spice. Full-bodied and supple on entry, the wine shows plenty of verve and definition thanks to healthy acidity and fine-grained tannins. Although Carlisle, Papera, and Saitone are all a stone’s throw from each other, each wine is distinct and unique. I’d suggest holding this wine until 2015 and then enjoying through 2022. (MRO – 07/18/14)