Winemaker Notes
Saitone is a classic in the making. This old vine Zinfandel vineyard in the Piner-Olivet region of the Russian River Valley is unparalleled for producing wines with density, precision, and verve. Highlighted by red fruits, the aromatics meld into notes of fennel, hints of peppercorn, and five-spice. Taut on the palate, the wine showcases liveliness and freshness with a dense core of dark fruits and a terrific finish of minerals and crushed rocks.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby-purple, the 2019 Zinfandel Saitone Estate Vineyard comes from 20 acres of Zinfandel vines planted in 1895. It offers loads of aromatic layers, segueing from pomegranate, red cherries, blueberries and boysenberries to wafts of peach, wild mint and botanicals. Full-bodied, its pleasantly chewy tannins support loads of ripe berry fruits, and an array of spicy accents define the very long finish. Wow! This powerful, expressive Zinfandel will be very long lived in the cellar.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Zinfandel Saitone Estate Vineyard is highly perfumed, revealing notes of candied apricots, violets, and vanillin spice. The palate has lift and freshness and is gushing with sweet plum fruit up front, followed by a silky finish with super fine tannins.
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James Suckling
This comes from a site originally planted in 1895. Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, chestnuts and roasted sage. Full-bodied with crushed dark berries and fresh mint. Velvety tannins. Cool wet-stone character through the plush palate. Well-balanced acidity and intensity.
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Wine Enthusiast
From a historic estate that belongs to the producer, this wine is supple in texture, with tension and bright, underlying acidity that keeps it fresh and in balance. Baking spice, sweet oak and dried cherry components are met by earthy accents of dried herb, crushed rock and black pepper.
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 standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.