Old Vine Zinfandel 2023

Old Vine Zinfandel, estate-grown from dry-farmed, 120-year-old vines: rich fruit, spice, and timeless character.

• Appearance: Deep ruby with garnet edges, showing density and vibrancy in the glass.

• Nose: Expressive and layered—ripe blackberry, raspberry compote, and dark cherry are lifted by notes of black pepper, clove, and dried herbs. Hints of cocoa, cedar, and warm earth add depth.

• Palate: Bold yet balanced. The benchland vineyard portion contributes juicy red and blue fruits with plush, velvety texture, while the hillside fruit brings darker blackberry, bramble, and spice with firmer tannins. Medium-plus to full body, framed by lively acidity that keeps the richness fresh. Subtle vanilla and toasted oak nuances weave through the mid-palate.

• Finish: Long, structured finish marked by black fruit, cracked pepper, and a mineral edge. A wine of both power and elegance, showing the hallmark ripeness of Dry Creek Valley with a backbone of hillside grip.

• Ageing Potential: 20+ years, developing layers of truffle, leather, tobacco, and cedar while retaining elegance and precision.

Decant for at least one hour and serve at 65°F

Traced back to 1890, these dry-farmed, head-pruned vines define the essence of Old-Vine Zinfandel. Their smaller yield produces concentrated, intense fruit, resulting in a wine that is vibrant, structured, and full of character.

An abnormally cold season sparked one of the latest starts to harvest in nearly two decades, but the 2023 vintage reflects the best of Sonoma. After a decade of hotter-than-average seasons occasionally plagued by wildfire smoke, we are excited to capture the flavor profile of an old-fashioned growing climate.

It was cold in April, May, June, July but we are not that concerned, because the slow maturation of the fruit leads to more intense flavors.

For Zinfandel grapes that take more time to ripen, waiting to harvest grapes is always a balancing act between quality and weather.

All of the barrels come from French cooperages with whom we have had an association for over twenty years. Selected from two French forests, the wood is air dried and coopered over a five-year production period and finished with a special “toasting” suited to the delicate characteristics of our wines.

Only 501 cases produced. No allergens were used in the making of this wine. Our vineyards are farmed to the code of sustainable agriculture using traditional techniques, based on strict control of yields, manual harvests and numerous quality specific tasks that are carried out by hand throughout the year.

Little or no chemical fertilizers are used. Selection and planting of cover crops and their return to the soil provides additional organic nutrients allowing our vines to reach an advanced age and produce outstanding grapes.

Color	Red
Vintage	2023
Harvest Date	9th Oct 2023
Style	Zinfandel
Appellation	Dry Creek Valley
Varietal	Zinfandel
Date Bottled	13th Aug 2024
Drinkable	2026 - 2040
Alcohol	15.10%
Bottle Size	750ml