2008 Estate Zinfandel and Petite Sirah Released...

Wines from the 2008 vintage will be very special, this one included - try this wine and you'll be back for more.

The winter season started out as rainy on the central coast with nearly record rainfall, but quickly turned dry. We began pruning in January and cut back the head-trained vines to even fewer spirs (or arms) than usual to curb some of the green growth in wetter years. A dry spring saw first bud break on March 14th and I note still no rain in weeks. In April, the vineyard suffered from a few frosty nights and several vines lost their precious young growth. Generally, growth in the Toucan Vineyard was normal in 2008, more balanced than some vintages, and the dry season yielded our first ripe fruit on September 7th and the last of the ripe fruit was picked on October 26th. The 300 Estate Petite Sirah vines were picked on September 25th.

The 2008 Estate Zinfandel was harvested in seven pickings, plus the Petite Sirah, and in each case cold soaked in small fermentation bins and slowly fermented. Each picking was barreled down separately in a mix of 60% new oak and 40% second and third year barrels. Partially combined once ML was completed in December, we did the final blending determined at racking in September of 2009. That final blend included 14% of Estate Petite Sirah for body, flavor and complexity. One final racking before bottling, and on March 15th, 2010 we hand-bottled 271 cases unfined and unfiltered. A separate bottling of 24 cases of the 2008 Estate Petite Sirah was also bottled from our estate vineyard.

The finished wine

Opulent and balanced best describe the 2008, dark and rich in color with a pop of beautiful complex fruit and a long inviting finish. Big, lush, and inviting sums up the 2008 vintage.

The 2008 Estate Zinfandel is a big, opulent, complex wine that spent 16 months in mostly new French, Hungarian, and American barrels. Dark garnet/purple with a huge nose of ripe wild berry and complex fruits. Lush, ripe berry fruit welcomes your taste-buds with a core of delicious fruit. And the big full mouth-feel and long finish invites your next taste. Best enjoyed 2010 - 2016

Harvest: September 7^th - October 26th

Bottled: March 15, 2010

Acid: .8

Alcohol: 15%

Release: 271 cases (including 375ml and 1500ml bottles)

Order directly from the winery and receive 20% by the case (or and mixed case of 12 bottles). Orders of the 2008 Petite Sirah is limited to 6 bottles - no limit for Club Members.