BACK
Tasting Notes
This wine captivates with its bright, jammy aromatics and hints of maraschino cherries. On the palate, it reveals a powerful and dense structure, showcasing vibrant flavors of melted licorice and boysenberry cobbler. A touch of toffee and spice adds complexity to the lingering, elegant finish, perfectly balancing the bold mountain-grown fruit with the nuanced influence of French oak.
Vintage Notes
Our 2022 harvest began just a little earlier than the previous year, with the first fruit picked on August 15. Limited rainfall during the growing season produced slightly lighter crops, bringing intense, concentrated flavor and color. The consistent weather during the summer months helped maintain fruit acidity, bringing brightness and balance to the fruit’s flavors. Harvest continued through the middle of October when we picked the last red grapes from our Sonoma Valley estate, Wild Oak Vineyard.
Vineyard Notes
Established in 2013, the Moon Mountain District of Sonoma County has only 1,500 vineyard acres planted to grapes. It lies on the eastern end of the Sonoma Valley AVA and spans from 400 to 2,200 ft in elevation. In particular, the grapes grown in this region are known to get plenty of sunshine from western-facing slopes and hold unique mineral characteristics due to the rocky and volcanic origin of its soils. While more and more varietals are being grown in this prestigious AVA, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel both have long histories here, producing some captivating wines.
Winemaker Notes
Winemaker Katie Madigan sources from just two small Zinfandel vineyards to produce this blended wine. Both sit high above the fog line and enjoy the benefits of a longer hang time on the vine before harvest. Once picked, each lot is fermented independently with a short cold soak followed by cooler fermentation temperatures to keep extraction in balance. After it has finished alcoholic fermentation, the wines are racked to French oak barrels to undergo their malolactic fermentation and elevage. Before bottling, blend trials are performed to find the best combination of these zinfandel lots and put forth an expressive vintage wine.
