100+ Year Old Vines!
Enjoy with rich Cheeses, fresh berries, Gourmet Pizzas, Pomegranate Chicken, seared Duck Breast with cherry sauce, Lamb Sliders, Baby Back Ribs.
VINEYARD
These 100+ year old ancient vines grow straight out of the rocky ground on the "bench" of the east Dry Creek Valley, our favorite terroir for Zinfandel in the Dry Creek Valley. In fact, these vines were hidden away under a thick patch of raspberry vines and weeds when John Louvau bought the property in the late '70s. It was only after he cleared the weeds to plant grapevines did he discover that he already had a small vineyard on the property: old, gnarled trunks of Zinfandel that were planted in the early 1900s. The vines are head-trained and are pruned so that they are quite low to the ground, resulting in tiny yields of concentrated fruit.
WINEMAKING
The vintage in 2022 produced a very reduced crop on these old vine grapes; barely one ton of grapes was harvested in the morning of September 9th. The wine fermented out dark and concentrated, with great structure and complexity. Hand-sorted to focus on only the best fruit. The fruit was fermented using only the natural yeast. At dryness, the wine was gently pressed in a membrane press and pumped to 60-gallon French oak barrels. Aged for 16 months to develop complexity without too much oak character to deter from the wine’s vibrancy.
Vintage: 2022
Varietals: 100% Zinfandel
Vineyard: Louvau Vineyard
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Time in oak: 16 months in French oak
Alcohol: 15.1%
95 Points
Entices with aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, and cedar spice. Indicative of the cool vintage, the wine carries a freshness throughout. The palate offers a harmonious balance between bright red fruit, spice, and nicely woven tannins.
95 Points
Deep garnet-purple in color, it strides confidently out of the glass with notes of crushed blueberries, ripe, fresh blackberries and warm cassis plus hints of black cherry, cardamom and nutmeg. The full-bodied palate is full of crunchy black fruits. It's rich and ripe firm chewy tannins provide additional structure and complexity as you make your descent into a long and flavorful finish.
94 Points
Aromas of honey, ginger, and key lime radiate from this elegant Chardonnay. A burst of fresh citrus, lime, and star fruit enlivens the front palate upon first sip and is quickly followed by ginger and white pepper, all underscored by subtle notes of white peach and cardamom. Vibrant acidity and steely minerality give the wine excellent structure as it moves into a long, flavorful finish.
93 Points
Robust aromatics of boysenberry, blackberry, cranberry, and black cherry are the centerpiece of this wine, harmonizing with the underlying aromas of violets, sandalwood, and forest floor. The first sip opens on the palate with a rush of softness and density, and lush, savory tannins. Red berries, blackberry, and cassis envelop the tongue on the mid-palate, gently punctuated with subtle acidity followed by a long, flavorful finish.
94 Points
Aromas of fresh lime, verbena, and gooseberry are followed by a juicy, aromatic front palate with bright acidity that wakes up your taste buds. The heightened aromatics develop even greater complexity on the mid-palate, featuring fresh lemon and star fruit, with just a hint of green apple and mango. Gorgeous structural precision leads to a long and chiseled finish with lasting minerality.
90 Points
Aromas of cranberry, sour cherry, plum, and orange rind, complemented by hints of forest floor, pine needles, and rosemary. The wine opens with flavor of juicy red fruit supported by spicy undertones of red pepper and black tea. The freshness of its red fruit are enhanced a vibrant core of light acidity and full rich tannins all of which linger gracefully in the long finish.
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