2006 Sonoma Valley "Rossi Ranch" Zinfandel
95% Zinfandel
5% Alicante Bouschet
Rossi is back! Deer helped themselves to the 2005 crop (and almost to me in one of the more terrifying moments of my life!) but in 2006 we were able to keep naughty critters at bay and harvested nearly 2.6 tons from the old vines planted in 1910. Farmed organically. Fermented indigenously. Aged in all French oak, 22% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Tasting Note: Medium-dark ruby-red. Hi-toned aromas of red cherries, orange rind, and bittersweet chocolate. Quite smooth on entry, the wine quickly coats the palate but never becomes dull or heavy thanks to invigorating tannins on the finish. Age-worthy. A recently opened bottle showed no signs of deterioration after five days on the counter. Optimum drinking should be from early-2010 through 2019. (MRO – 10/30/08)