Product Description:

"This is one of the most structured, intense wines we have made from the Ponzo vineyard. An abundance of exotic fruit makes it enjoyable now; it will continue to develop over the next five to six years." -Winery

Cellar Tracker Favorite! This wine has a median of 90 points in 27 notes. Click here to see all of the notes on Cellar Tracker!

VINEYARDS:
"Bob Ponzo has farmed these grapes for us in the Russian River Valley since 1999. Bob's vineyard, on deep gravely loam soils four and a half miles south of Lytton Springs, provides all of the fruit for this zinfandel. The Russian River Valley's cooler microclimate ripens this fruit shortly after Lytton Springs and Geyserville. Small amounts of petite sirah are interplanted with zinfandel in the oldest block." -Winery

VINTAGE:
"Early budbreak followed a warm spring in Russian River Valley this year. In all three parcels of Bob Ponzo's vineyard, crop levels were down, so the grapes ripened quickly. We harvested the Old Vines on August 26, Triangle and Back blocks in mid-September. The parcels fermented separately on yeasts naturally present on the grapes. Color and tannin were plentiful, and extracted easily during a nine-day maceration. After malolactic, we tasted, choosing to blend Old Vines and Back blocks for this year's wine. Once assembled, it was put in air-dried american oak barrels to age for twelve months." -Winery

This scored 86 points in the Wine Spectator and 82 points in the Wine Enthusiast.