3 - 2007 Zinfandel, Shenandoah Valley 750ml
3 - 2008 Sierra Legend, Red Blend 750ml
2007 Zinfandel, Shenandoah Valley
This exciting Zinfandel is very varietal in character. It has aromas of bing cherry, coffee and dark berry fruit. On the palate you discover layers of flavors starting with fresh blackberry and ending with wild strawberry and blueberry. The finish is long and lasting with dark fruit, dark chocolate and baking spices. This well balanced and elegant wine is very approachable in this young age. It can be enjoyed right away or if you are patient enough to wait 5 years it will become a gem.
Zinfandel also known as Zingarello is a clone of the Croatian variety Creljnak. Creljnak migrated to Italy and assumed the name of Primitivo while Zinfandel obtained its present identity in the United States. Wines made from Zinfandel are typical examples of new world wines with fruit forward, high alcohol and stylistically driven by the winemaker rather than driven by terroir as in old world wines.
A part of the Zinfandel grapes used in this wine came from Frank Gunther's Vineyard and the other part from our Estate Vineyard. Gunther's vineyard which is 43 years old is one of the best Zinfandel vineyards in this valley. Our Estate Vineyard was planted in 2002 with a Duprat clone of Zinfandel that is not common in this region. The prominent clone of Zinfandel in the Foothills is the Deaver clone. This wine was made in our "Submerged Cap Fermentation Tank" that is capable of fully extracting the flavor, color and mouthfeel components present in the grapes. The wine was then aged in predominantly French oak barrels for 14 months.
2008 Sierra Legend, Red Blend
This is my fourth vintage of Sierra Legend which is a blend of Syrah, a Rhone variety, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, both Bordeaux varieties, and Primitivo originating in Croatia but lately cultivated mainly in Italy. Creating new blends, especially from wines that are inherently different is by far the most fulfilling and exciting part of my job as a winemaker.
The 2008 Sierra Legend has an identity of its own hardly revealing the identity of its components. This wine has a remarkable balance between the fruit and the savory, smoky and earthy notes that come to play in the mid-palate and the finish. This wine opens elegantly with dark berry aromas and hints of coffee which carry all the way to the palate. Subtle smoky and earthy notes and hints of mocha are a part of the long and sustained finish.
All the grapes used for this wine are Estate grown.
Specs
2007 Zinfandel, Shenandoah Valley
Varietal Content:Zinfandel 80.4%, Primitivo 7.7%, Cabernet Franc 7.7%, Tempranillo 4.2%
Bottling Date: 2/5/2009
Cases Produced: 1296
Alcohol Content: 14.6% by volume
pH: 3.55
Residual Sugars: Less than 0.1%
2008 Sierra Legend, Red Blend
Varietal Content: 36% Syrah, 24% Primitivo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Shenandoah Valley, California
Bottling Date: February 4, 2010
Cases Produced: 638
Alcohol: 14.1% by Volume
pH: 3.6
Residual Sugar: Less than 0.1%
