Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Zinfandel is elegant, gracious and lifted. Crushed flowers, white pepper, bright red-toned fruit, cinnamon and cedar lift from the glass. This delicate, aromatic Zinfandel is all charm. The 14% Petite Sirah in the blend is not especially noticeable, likely because it was picked a week ahead, cold-soaked, then infused into the fermenting Zinfandel must. Aging mostly in concrete preserves striking fruit purity.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.