Saracina Zinfandel 2007

Vintage and Release Information

Mendocino County 2007
Released October 1, 2009
Limited Production of 141 cases

Varietal Composition

100% Zinfandel

Technical Data

15.8% alcohol by volume
0.53 titratable acidity
pH 3.83
Bottled August 13, 2009

Vineyards and Harvest

The Sawyer Vineyard is a hilltop site above the Ukiah Valley looking down over Lake Mendocino.  Although only 12 years old, this organically farmed vineyard was planted to mimic the old-vine vineyards of Dry Creek Valley:  it is dry-farmed with wide spacing and head-pruned vines and utilizes a venerable Dry Creek Valley clonal selection on St. George rootstock.  The soil is an ideal deep benchland red loam.  Harvest was ideal, with no heat spikes and even maturation.  Lack of winter rains, a mild spring and summer, and moderate September temperatures created an ideal growing season.  Low-ground moister and smaller berry size contributed to a perfect juice-to-skin ratio.  A cold snap in mid-September allowed slow sugar accumulation, and the skins matured beautifully.

Winemaking and Cooperage

The grapes were harvested by hand, de-stemmed and gently crushed into a closed-top tank.  Native yeast fermentation began seven days later.  Post-fermentation extended maceration with heat for one week.  Free-run juice was then drained directly into Taransaud barrels, 50% of which were new.  Native malolactic fermentation was complete by March 27, 2009.  The wine was racked just three weeks prior to bottling.  We bottled unfiltered on August 13, 2009.

Winemaker

Alex MacGregor

Consulting Winemaker

David Ramey

Winemaker's Comments

Highly concentrated, our 2007 Zinfandel is deep on blackberry fruit with sweet soil and spice notes.  The palate is balanced and supple with a layered richness and enough tanning to ensure even more sophistication in years to come.