Winemaker Notes
Located in Sonoma County, this vineyard is nearly hidden in downtown Santa Rosa. Planted in 1915 on 2.5 acres, the vineyard is farmed organically by Alida Morzenti, granddaughter of the Zampattis. The Zinfandel vines are interspersed with the little known white grapes Palomino & Golden Chasselas, and planted on a cool sloping site with large rocks scattered throughout the warm Franciscan soils. The wines are balanced, aromatic, bright and beautiful.
A part of the tiny Fountaingrove AVA in Sonoma, Zampatti is in a particularly cool location, just one of the factors that makes this wine so unique. We get the cool growing season aromatics like those seen in Russian River Valley, but the wine has a great deal more structure, owing to the rocky, uplifted seabed soils. On the nose, it smells like the most perfect blackberry pie, fresh from a wood-burning oven: ripe
brambly fruits, baking spices, the sun shining down through tall trees. The wine is just as multi-faceted on the palate, with all those blue and black fruits paired with pure, lively acidity and lush tannin, resulting in a deeply satisfying texture.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Vibrant and expressive, with tart cherry and red plum flavors laced with smoky sage and cracked pepper notes that take on richness on the finish. Drink now through 2025.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a site defined by ancient ocean bed soils and a Russian River Valley-like climate, the 2016 Zinfandel Zampatti Vineyard wafts from the glass with aromas of cassis, plums and pencil lead. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and layered, with bright acids, a vibrant core of fruit and youthfully chalky tannins. It's one of the highest-acid wines in the lineup, and I'd expect it to age well.
Rating: 92+
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.
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.