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93 pts | Wine Spectator
92 pts | Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
This wine is captivating, with a rich structure and concentrated flavors of wild blackberry. From the first sip, the lushness of this Zinfandel unfolds, offering a sensory journey with a subtle touch of spice that lingers gracefully on the finish. Expect an exquisite interplay of the bold mountain-grown fruit, showcasing the wild essence of blackberry, all elegantly framed by the nuanced influence of French oak.
Vintage Notes
The 2021 growing season saw near-perfect growing conditions. With minimal winter rain, the vines were awakened with ideal moderate springtime temperatures, eliminating any frost threat to the developing buds. At most sites, fruit set was during the optimal timeframe due to warm, consistent conditions. Veraison occurred 7-10 days earlier than in previous years due to the temperate weather and minimal rain. Moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights throughout the summer months, with a few of the regular short-lived heat spikes, allowing for excellent flavor development. The year saw an early harvest, with 90% of the region’s grapes being picked before the late Fall.
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 a splash of Petite Sirah is added in for texture and structure.
