Winemaker Notes
These older (and some younger) low production vines that make up the Teldeschi wine from Ravenswood are a mix of Zinfandel, Carignane, and Petite Sirah. This melange is typical of the older plantings in California that use the different nature of each grape to elicit the best wine from the specific conditions of a particular growing region, while also allowing for flexibility in a vintage. The majority grape, Zinfandel, provides a thick ripe cherry berry character, while the Carignane provides bright raspberry flavors and balancing acidity. The Petite Sirah provides deep color, pepper spice and firm tannins. Small open-top fermenters, the use of native yeast fermentation, manual punching down of the "cap", minimal processing, and aging in small French oak cooperage all contribute to a style that brings out the best in the vineyard. The three varieties are fermented separately and blended to taste to produce the best wine possible from the vineyard in each year.
The resulting wine is a Dry Creek classic, with its deep, almost blue black color and an aroma that exhibits the regional character of vanilla and ripe cherries. There are also the added complexities of red raspberries and black pepper. The impression of roundness, fullness, and sweet fruit are well balanced by refreshing acidity and smooth ripe tannins in the mouth. The full, multi-layered flavors linger long in the finish. This will be a wine that will please when it is young, but will please greatly when it is 7 to 10 years in the bottle, thus making it the perfect synthesis of tradition, hard work, excellent grape production, superior microclimate and dedicated winemaking.
Fueled initially by the inspiration and winemaking skills of Joel Peterson, aided and abetted by his business partner W. Reed Foster, Ravenswood winery has been dedicated to top quality, hand-crafted wine since the first crush in 1976. Every Ravenswood wine carries a unique vintage and vineyard identity in addition to the intense powerful – gothic – character with which the winery has come to be associated.
A key to Ravenswood’s success is their long-standing relationships with over 60 independent grape growers. Vineyards are chosen for their location, age, yield and special flavor characteristics. At Ravenswood, they are devoted to working with growers who share their philosophy about high quality.
Ravenswood Vineyard Designate wines are made employing what Joel Peterson refers to as “stubborn and impractical” Old World enological practices. Wines are fermented in small wooden tanks using wild, natural yeasts and punched down by hand three to five times per day. The wines are characterized by intense, spicy aromas supported by rich, berry flavors and long, clean finishes.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.
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.