Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
This bottling draws on selected Sonoma County vineyards. “Old Vine” denotes vines at least 50 years old, although the source vineyards average closer to 75 years. The old vines give the wine concentrated briary fruit, spice and structural depth.
Grapes
Blend proportions vary by vintage. The latest published vintage, 2024, comprises 78% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 8% mixed red varieties and 1% Alicante Bouschet.
Vinification
The 2024 fruit was harvested and sorted by hand, lightly crushed and fermented in small open-top stainless-steel tanks. Pneumatic punch-downs encouraged extraction, while pump-overs provided gentle aeration. After 8–12 days on skins, the free-run wine was drained to barrel to complete alcoholic fermentation and undergo malolactic conversion.
Ageing
The component wines evolved for 10 months before blending and then returned to barrel for another five months of integration before bottling.
Technical data
2024: 15% alcohol, pH 3.85 and total acidity of 5.87 g/L.
Tasting profile
Candy-coated cherry and sun-warmed fruit lead the aromas, with hints of stone fruit. Black plum, dried fig, clay earth, garrigue and cardamom mingle with briary red and black berries. The mouth-filling entry recalls chocolate-covered cherry, followed by a juicy mid-palate with lively acidity and baking spice. Fine, structured tannins support a rich, velvety, age-worthy finish.
Serving and pairing
Pair with beef braciole, mushroom sugo or cherry-balsamic pork tenderloin.
Vintage notes
The 2024 growing season followed a second consecutive winter of above-average rainfall, with 94 cm recorded in Sonoma County. Cool early conditions and replenished soil moisture supported balanced vegetative growth and detailed canopy work. Warmer-than-average days from late spring through summer were moderated by cool Sonoma nights, allowing steady phenolic and sugar development. The wider estate harvest ran from August 27 to October 10; fruit for this wine was picked between August 30 and October 7.
