Winemaker Notes
Precedent Zinfandel Evangelho Contra Costa County 2018 really is an “OMG” wine, one of those wines that you know is fabulous the minute you smell it. Fruit and floral aromas rise out of the glass as soon as the wine is poured. The flavours do not disappoint and include blackberries, blackcurrants with hints of cranberry, red plums and chocolate, a touch of marzipan, pepper and spices such as cinnamon and cloves. I realise that this makes Precedent Evangelho Zinfandel sound like a BIG wine but in fact it is both elegant and complex, the complexity partly from the co-fermentation of the grapes. This wine is in fact a field blend as the Zinfandel vines are inter-planted with smaller amounts of Carignan, Mataro or Mourvèdre, Palomino, Muscat, Chasselas and, according to Nathan
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
A large Northern California appellation centered on the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Bay AVA falls within the larger Central Coast AVA. The smaller appellations of Livermore Valley, Pacheco Pass, San Ysidro District and Santa Clara Valley AVAs fall within the San Francisco Bay boundaries, and all produce high-quality Central Coast wines.