2017 Russian River Valley "Piner-Olivet Ranches" Zinfandel
61% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Carlisle Vineyard
29% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Papera Ranch
10% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Montafi Ranch
Blending is always surprising. You can have two great components for a wine, both worthy of being bottled on their own, but when fully blended together, they do not result in the best wine. As a result, sometimes a portion of a component gets left out. Such was the case when it came to blending our “Big 3” – Carlisle, Papera, and Montafi. Fortunately, the “leftovers” of these three wines melded seamlessly together to create an insanely yummy wine showcasing the terroir of this cool growing area of the Russian River Valley. Twenty-six percent new oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Medium-dark to dark garnet-ruby. Intense aromas of cherry, cactus pear (tuna or higo chumbo in Spanish, I ate a lot of them as a child), pomegranate, and a subtle note of baking spice. Full-bodied but so well-balanced. Flavors of red and black fruits linger in the long and powerful finish. Compared to the ’16, slightly darker in profile yet this offers more immediate enjoyment. Drink this lip-smackin’ Zinfandel from release through 2026. (MRO - 01/10/19)