Kendall-Jackson Great Estates Mendocino Zinfandel 2000

The 2000 growing season started off with a mild but wet winter. Record heat waves in May and June reduced berry size and added potency to the flavors. The remainder of the summer brought cooler weather with heat spikes near harvest. The sudden heat finally ripened the fruit while creating a new challene: berries that were just starting to shrivel at their peak of ripeness, concentrating the flavors even more. The end result was a vintage with long hang times, bringing both power and finesse to the carefully picked fruit. WINEMAKING: Grapes from old vines deserve a gentle crush, followed by a cold soak, warm fermentation and minimal maceration on the skins lasting 12 days in all. This extra care allowed this Zinfandel to develop deep color, rich aromatics and soft tannins. The freshly pressed wine was racked into small French and American oak barrels, where it aged for 10 months. This wine includes small amounts of Petite Sirah, Grenache and Carignane, typical complements to Zinfandel, which adds a dash of complexity and interest to a true old vine Zinfandel. This wine shows extraordinary white and black pepper, spice and plenty of blackberry and raspberry jam with a long, voluptuous finish.