2014 Zinfandel, Montecillo Vineyard, Sonoma Valley • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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2014

Zinfandel

Montecillo Vineyard

Sonoma Valley

Tasting Notes

TASTING NOTES This Zinfandel offers sweet and spicy aromas of wild blackberry and vanilla bean that merge with layered flavors of berry pie, cinnamon, and toasty baking spices. A lively wine with a long, lingering finish.

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

Located in the Mayacamas Mountain range, the Montecillo Vineyard sits high on the western slope of the mountains overlooking Sonoma Valley. At 1400 feet elevation, the western exposure provides the heat and sunlight to ripen the Zinfandel vines and the well-drained soil contributes to smaller crops with highly concentrated, full-flavored fruit. The resulting wine is rich and lush.

Winemaker Notes

This vineyard is split into three distinct blocks: Terraces, Head Trained and Trellised. Each block is fermented independently to showcase the unique characteristics of its micro-climate. Short cold-soaks are used to promote aroma development, followed by an easy slow fermentation to balance out the mouthfeel. The lots are then racked to barrel on their fine lees to undergo malolactic in 40% new French oak. Halfway through aging, the blend is made according to taste and texture that reflects this very special site. The wine is then put back to the barrel to complete 18 months of aging before bottling.