2011 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
60% Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Teldeschi Ranch
28% Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Mounts Ranch
12% Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah, Del Carlo Ranch
Dry Creek Valley can be quite warm in the late summer and early fall. This can make deciding when to pick Zinfandel a bit tricky. Zinfandel can jump 2 Brix a day here. Blink and you may miss your target. Fortunately, in the cool, moderate growing season of 2011, there were no such issues. Zinfandel was able to hang without excessive sugar accumulation while flavors continued to develop. Our two base components, Mounts and Teldeschi, were picked September 22nd and September 26th respectively. Twelve percent Del Carlo Ranch Petite Sirah was included for color and structure. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Medium-dark to dark ruby. Drop-dead gorgeous aromas of cherry, herbs, and spice box spill from the glass. I could smell this all day! On the palate, full bodied with an explosion of red cherry fruit. Suave tannins build through the long finish. A remarkable wine combining both power and elegance. Drink from release with a good decant through 2020. (MRO – 01/17/13)