2018 Russian River Valley "Mancini Ranch" Zinfandel
85% Zinfandel
15% Mixed Black Varieties (Carignan, Abouriou, Valdiguié, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Petite Sirah)
Rebounding nicely from the ultra-low yields of 2017, 6.2 tons were picked on October 15th from this 96-year-old vineyard, our last Russian River Valley Zinfandel of the vintage. Fully destemmed and cold soaked for five days, the must was inoculated with a strain of yeast isolated from a ferment of some nearby old-vine Zin. After 19 days on the skins, the wine was pressed to all French oak, 19% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Medium-dark to dark garnet-ruby. Aromatically, Ka-BOOM! A veritable fireworks show! Cherries, plum, peaches, raspberries, blood orange, tobacco... You name it! This wine can be smelled from across the room! Full-bodied but with flavors of yellow stone fruits (nectarine, peach) and red raspberry. The wine embodies all that is delicious from summer. Finishes long, clean, and pure. Enjoy this archetype Russian River Valley Zinfandel from release through 2028. (MRO - 07/10/20)