2014 Old Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma County • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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90 Points | SF International Wine Competition | July 2017
Gold Medal | SF International Wine Competition | July 2017
90 Points | The Wine Advocate | April 2017
Gold Medal | SF Chronicle Wine Competition | January 2017
90 Points | Wine Spectator | May 2017

Tasting Notes

This rich, medium-bodied“Old Vines” Zinfandel reveals abundant aromas of dark red berries, cherry compote, and warm spice. Lingering, bright flavors follow, with notes of boysenberry pie, fresh cranberry, and a touch of white pepper. The finish is long, smooth, and a little spicy. Wine Spectator called this wine zesty, easy-going, and fun to drink.

Vintage Notes

Warm sunny days throughout the spring and summer months set the stage for a spectacular harvest in September 2014. The lack of rain meant that harvest began a little earlier than normal and was short in length, finishing up by the end of October. The temperate days leading up to harvest produced good yields of high-quality fruit with concentrated flavors, complex aromatics, and excellent structure.

Vineyard Notes

The grapes in our Sonoma County “Old Vines” Zinfandel come from vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, and Alexander Valley. These head-pruned and dry-farmed vines range in age from 55 to more than 100 years old, producing low yields of fruit with highly concentrated, intense flavors.

Winemaker Notes

The grapes are gently de-stemmed and crushed before cold-soaking for three days to extract optimal color and flavor. The fruit is then inoculated with many different yeast strains to build complexity, then fermented in separate lots using a combination of pump-overs and delestage to soften tannins. Secondary malolactic fermentation occurs in French oak barrels. The wine ages in barrel for sixteen months before final blending and bottling.