Old Vines, Zinfandel

Maggie's Vineyard

Sonoma Valley

Tasting Notes

This Sonoma Valley wine has a profound character, unveiling a captivating nose filled with the essence of ripe red fruits. Hints of red berries, dark chocolate, and peppery spice accented with bright acidity bring the wine to life. The wine’s vibrant flavors unravel across the palate with juicy notes of Bing cherry and just a touch of tart Fuji apple. The refreshingly balanced composition extends into an enjoyably long finish.

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

Maggie’s Vineyard is a 10-acre Italian “field blend” vineyard originally planted in the 1890s. It is located in the Sonoma Valley AVA, down by the Sonoma Golf Club. The vineyard is certified as a Registered Heritage Vineyard with the Historic Vineyard Society. Rosenblum Cellars leased portions of the vineyard in the mid-1990s as part of a long-term plan to rehabilitate the vineyard and improve production. St. Francis took over farming beginning in 2019. Tonnage yields vary from 1-4 tons/acre depending on the block.

Winemaker Notes

Each vineyard block at Maggie’s is fermented separately as much as possible in order to showcase the unique qualities they have to offer. A short cold soak is performed on each tank, followed by a 7-10 day alcoholic fermentation at moderate temperatures to balance extraction with fruit aromas. After completion, each tank is barreled down to French barrels, where it undergoes natural malolactic fermentation. During this elevage period, the lots are tasted and evaluated before blend trials are performed prior to bottling.