2019 Russian River Valley "Piner-Olivet Ranches" Zinfandel
47% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Papera Ranch
44% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Carlisle Vineyard
3% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Mancini Ranch
3% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Montafi Ranch
3% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Saitone Vineyard
Our 2019 Piner-Olivet Ranches Zinfandel knocks it out of the park! And how could it not? First, we blended nearly equal portions of Papera Ranch and Carlisle Vineyard. The wine was delicious but did we leave it at that? Heck no! We found that including a barrel each of Mancini, Montafi, and Saitone really kicked it up a notch or two. A blend of the five finest old-vine vineyards in the Piner-Olivet area of the Russian River Valley and a “reserve” wine in everything but name. Aged in all French oak, 11% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Brilliant medium to medium-dark garnet-ruby. Very captivating, hi-toned aromas of macerated cherries, raspberry, and sweet brown tobacco. The nose alone makes it hard to leave the glass! The wine enters smoothly, displaying medium to medium-full body and flavors of red cherry, raspberry, and blood orange. By no means a light wine but with plenty of natural acidity, the wine dances delicately across the palate on its way to a lively, mineral-tinged finish. There’s so much in this wine to enjoy now but if you can wait, prime enjoyment should be from 2024 to 2028. (MRO - 01/17/22)