Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignane come from old vines at Home Ranch Vineyard in Alexander Valley, Sonoma County.
Grapes
Blend proportions may vary by vintage. Latest published vintage (2022): 52% Zinfandel, 28% Petite Sirah, and 20% Carignane.
Vinification
Each variety was harvested by hand and separately at optimum ripeness, then sorted and destemmed into small open-top fermenters. Pneumatic-assisted punch-downs were used during an 8–11-day maceration. The free-run wines settled in tank for two days before transfer to barrel, where malolactic fermentation took place. The final blend was assembled after 10 months and returned to barrel for the balance of maturation. It was racked twice before blending and bottling and was bottled unfined.
Ageing
The wine matured for 15 months in 10% new French oak and 90% neutral French and American oak; 10% of the vessels were puncheons.
Technical data
Alcohol: 15%. pH: 3.62. Titratable acidity: 6.0 g/L. Production: 1,200 cases.
Tasting profile
Carignane contributes lifted red-plum aromas and acidity. Briary black raspberry from Zinfandel is wrapped in darker-fruit nuances, while Petite Sirah supplies cassis and fine tannins. The blend combines depth with balance while remaining light on its feet.
Serving and pairing
Duck confit provides a rich counterpoint to the Petite Sirah tannins and Carignane acidity.
Vintage notes
The 2022 growing season began with significantly below-average winter rainfall and a prolonged frost season lasting into late April, although the estate vineyards largely avoided damage. Cooler May and June weather shifted development closer to average and delayed véraison and projected picking dates. July and August brought substantial warmth and some sunburn. During Labor Day week, temperatures exceeded 47.8°C in northern Alexander Valley and reached approximately 46.1°C in the Santa Rosa High Plains, accelerating ripening and creating one of the estate's fastest harvests. The varieties for Marian's Reserve were picked between September 8 and September 29, 2022.
Label / history
Ed Seghesio first co-fermented equal parts Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignane in 1975 for his personal cellar. When the family began releasing wine under its own name in 1983, the blend was bottled commercially in honor of his wife, Fay Marian. Production resumed in 2004 both to preserve her legacy and to present the individual character of the old-vine varieties.
