2017 Old Vines Zinfandel, Giovanetti Vineyard, Russian River Valley • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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2017

Old Vines, Zinfandel

Giovanetti Vineyard

Russian River Valley

91 Points & Gold Medal | Harvest Challenge

Tasting Notes

This full-bodied red leads with a nose of grilled stone fruit, fresh strawberry jam, and white pepper. A robust palate of baker’s chocolate, black raspberry, and maple balance the middle with a silky texture and lively acidity on the finish.

Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season started out wet with record-breaking rainfall after several dry years. A mild spring led to a timely bud break and good fruit set, followed by ideal conditions of cool mornings and warm, sunny days throughout the summer months. A few days of intense heat at the beginning of September sped up ripening throughout the region. Well-timed picks meant the majority of the fruit was in by the first week of October. Beautiful color, well-defined aromatics, and outstanding flavor are all evident in this year’s vintage.

Vineyard Notes

The historic Giovanetti Vineyard produces one of our most beloved old-vine Zinfandels. Located in the heart of Russian River Valley near Woolsey Road, this small, family-run, 8-acre vineyard was originally planted in Carignane in the late 1800s but was grafted over to Zinfandel and mixed blacks by the Giovanetti family in 1910. Today the vineyard is owned and operated by Phyllis Giovanetti who, at over 80 years old, still does a bit of pruning and oversees a vegetable garden and orchard. For additional depth and color, Winemaker Katie Madigan included a small percentage of Petite Sirah sourced from another old-vine vineyard in Russian River Valley closer to the town of Windsor.

Winemaker Notes

The grapes are hand-sorted and undergo a five-day cold soak before fermentation to extract optimal color and flavor Akaer primary fermentation, the wine is pumped into 100% French oak barrels, where it undergoes natural malolactic fermentation, followed by 15 months of aging before bottling.