Hartford Fanucchi-Wood Road Zinfandel 2001

The 2001 Fanucchi Vineyard Zinfandel displays ripe blackberry, violet and sweet, smoky oak aromas along with smoked meat, black liquorice and minerally flavors. Carrying on the tradition of this ancient vineyard, the 2001 Fanucchi-Wood Road Zinfandel has a tremendously dense texture complemented by great power and finesse.

The 98-year old Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard is located on about seven acres along a slight rise off Wood Road in the Russian River Valley appellation of Sonoma County. It is dry-farmed and has been hand-tended by the Fanucchi family for the last 29 years. The vineyard is head trained, but the Fanucchis have raised the gnarled old vines from just above ground level to chest height. This modification appears to provide greater sun exposure and air circulation and to have reinvigorated the old vines, enhancing the production of high-quality, old-vine fruit.

The soils on Wood Road are sandy loam of relatively low pH and fertility. Old vines on these soils produce small Zinfandel berries with bright, concentrated cherry and blackberry fruit flavors. At optimum ripeness, the fruit makes a big, intense, long-lived Zinfandel of unique personality. Bright, high-tone cherry aromas and flavors are typical indicators of Fanucchi-Wood Road terroir.