4 - 2013 Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County 750ml
4 - 2014 Merlot, Bench Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County 750ml
4 - 2013 Red Wine Blend, Barrel Select, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County 750ml
2013 Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Our Mother Clone is a classic Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel with fragrant aromas of ripe berry and black plum with a touch of black pepper spice. Concentrated blackberry and fig flavors are framed by subtle toasted oak with a dusty-spicy finish. Well integrated flavors with round tannins and bright acidity are a hallmark of our style. Enjoy now or cellar for three to five years.
Mother Clone Vineyard Sources
Pedroncelli’s historic Zinfandel vineyards are located on the hillsides surrounding the winery, on the ranch originally purchased by John Pedroncelli Sr. in 1927 and planted to Zinfandel since 1904. Our Zinfandel vines are head-pruned and hand-picked, a second generation vineyard cloned from the original “Mother” vines. The fruit from the remaining handful of 100-year-old vines, although a small part, is included. Along with the grapes from our estate vineyards, it has been a tradition to include two other old vine and heritage vineyards from nearby growers.
Winemaking
2013 was another ideal growing season with mild temperatures and opportune heat spikes to ripen the grapes to full maturity resulting in exceptional yields and quality. We harvested the vineyards during the middle two weeks of September. The resulting fruit had great color, flavor, and tannin development. During fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, the cellar crew performed daily pumpovers—extracting color and flavor from the skins. The wine was aged in American oak barrels for 13 months. A touch of Petite Sirah (6%) adds depth of color and structure in our Zinfandel.
2014 Merlot, Bench Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Our Merlot shows aromas of ripe cherry, red plum and clove. On the palate there is bright berry as well as toasted oak and, in the background, some dried herb and cola notes. Medium bodied with ripe tannins which follow through to a lush, almost velvety finish.
Bench Vineyards
The source for our Bench Vineyards Merlot comes from selected blocks off of our vineyard located along Dry Creek Road as well as one other grower a short distance from ours. Bench Vineyards, the name chosen for this wine, describes the natural terraces that flank Dry Creek Valley and rise gradually into the steep hills. Characterized by sloped topography and gravelly/rocky residual soils, the unique growing conditions combine to bring out the best in our Merlot.
Winemaker Notes
Grapes were harvested the first week of September following the dry and warm growing season of 2013 which accelerated the ripeness of our Merlot by one week. The result is a flavor concentrated wine with soft tannins and excellent structure. The grapes were crushed into temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and cold-soaked for 48 hours. Daily pumpovers during the fermentation gives a substantial increase in color, tannins and flavor. The young wine was transferred to small American oak barrels to age for 14 months in order to develop smoothness and complexity giving it a subtle backbone of oak components.
2013 Red Wine Blend, Barrel Select, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Rich aromas of red currant, warm spice and cherry pie are followed by flavors of blackberry jam, ripe plum and mocha notes. A silky smooth, lush wine with rounded fruit and medium tannins with enough acidity to give structure and a lasting finish.
Winemaking
Our 2013 Red Wine Blend is made with an easy-to-drink focus and a ‘kick back with a glass’ attitude. Barrel Select means we carefully searched through our cellar looking for the best combination of varietals to give you an enjoyable yet interesting glass of wine. Merlot, Zinfandel and Sangiovese were balanced with just the right amount of time in small seasoned oak barrels-not too much to overwhelm the fruit flavors.
The 2013 season had ideal growing conditions with warm days and cool nights that allowed grapes to reach full ripeness with balanced acids. The result is a rich, complex and well balanced wine. Harvested between September 3rd and the 24th, there was time for great development of acidity and sugar in the grapes and the resulting wine shows great finesse. Aging for one year in seasoned American oak barrels gave the wine some additional complexity and softened up the tannins.
Vineyard Sources
Sourced and hand-picked from several vineyards dotting the hills and benches in northern Sonoma County where red wine varietals do best in the rocky, gravelly soil and where the unique climate of sun and fog combine to best develop and ripen the grapes.
Specs
2013 Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Aging: 13 months in American Oak, 30% new oak
Alcohol 14.9%
pH 3.74
Total Acidity: .565g/100mg
2014 Merlot, Bench Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley
Barrel Aging: 14 months in American Oak
Alcohol 14.2%
pH 3.61
Total Acidity: .575g/100mg
2013 Red Wine Blend, Barrel Select, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Composition: A proprietary blend of Merlot, Zinfandel and Sangiovese
Barrel Aging: Each lot was aged one year in seasoned American oak barrels
Alcohol 14.3%
pH 3.59
Total Acidity: .585g/100mg