Winemaker Notes
With an average age of vines well-over 100 years of which all are still being dryfarmed, there is a concentration of ripe blackberries and spice with a minerality (dusty-berry) sneaking through. The Petite Sirah adds to this a firm tannin backbone along with boysenberries and pepper while the Carignane adds a pronounced fleshy mouth feel along with dark cherries and coffee notes. Our Mataro comes from vines that are now over 120 years old and add spice elements, violets, and complex phenolic structures that enhance the overall mouth feel and age ability of this wine. Enjoy this wine now or cellar in a cool location for 5-7 years.
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.