2018 Russian River Valley "Montafi Ranch" Zinfandel
89% Zinfandel
11% Mixed Black Varieties (Alicante Bouschet, Aubun, Grand Noir, Petite Sirah, Peloursin, Trousseau noir, Syrah, Petit Bouschet, Cinsault)
Sadly, 2018 was our last year to lease and farm this 92-year-old vineyard. But good news! The kind folks at Seghesio Winery, the current owners of the vineyard, have agreed to continue selling us a small amount of fruit. Our Montafi Ranch Zin lives on! Just at less than half the quantity. Hence, if this is a favorite wine of yours, time to stock up! Picked over two days, September 25th and September 27th, each lot was cold-soaked for 5 days before inoculation with one of our favorite local yeasts, Williams Selyem. Both lots were pressed to all French oak, 18% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered
Tasting Note:
Very dark garnet-ruby. Blackberries, blackberries, and more blackberries are highlighted by a suggestion of bay laurel and eucalyptus. Full-bodied with flavors of blackberries (no surprise there!), licorice allsorts, and cocoa powder that linger in the long, fruit-filled finish. A wine that really builds with air while in the glass Enjoy this impressively concentrated, old-vine beauty pretty much anytime but it should be best between 2022 and 2028. (MRO - 01/15/20)