2006 ZINFANDEL - DRY CREEK VALLEY / BRADFORD MOUNTAIN VINEYARD

This wine is composed almost entirely of Zinfandel from Bradford Mountain Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley. The grapes were picked on September 23rd of 2006 at an average of 24.2 degrees brix, de-stemmed but not crushed, and allowed to cold soak for five days before being fermented in stainless steel tanks. The finished wine was matured in a mix of new and 1-year-old French oak barrels for 12 months prior to bottling.

Wines produced from Bradford Mountain are complex, aromatic and intense. This 2006 Bradford Mountain Zinfandel has concentrated dark fruit aromas of ripe blackberry and Marion berry with subtle layers of cardamom spice and eucalyptus. The wine shows rich concentrated flavors of dark berry fruit, asian spices and well-proportioned tannins leading to a generous, yet vibrant finish. This robust Zinfandel will pair beautifully with a dry rubbed tri-tip on the summer barbecue or a simple penne arrabbiata.

Bradford Mountain Vineyards, originally settled by an Italian family in the late 1800’s, is now owned by the Hambrecht family. They are located on the northwestern side of Dry Creek Valley at about 1000 feet elevation. The volcanic, red soils, Boomer loam and Stonyford loam, are reminiscent of Tuscany’s terra rosa. Fifty-one acres are planted to Zinfandel; we source our fruit from 30 of those acres that were planted in 1974. There is some debate, but the Zinfandel vines are thought to be from the “mother” blocks planted in 1900 to the Hambrecht/Mead Atlas Peak clone.