2023 Boatman Zinfandel

Jammy raspberry, black tea, pepper and floral aromas. Savory and bright. Flavors of black olive, apricot and milk chocolate with a lingering finish. SR (12/25)

Following a cold, wet winter and late bud break, these head-trained vines set a modest crop. This is one of the few wines we produce that is 100% zinfandel. The grapes were picked and fermented as separate parcels. After malolactic, five were chosen for their abundant fruit and sumptuous mouthfeel. This fine Zinfandel is approachable as a young wine and will develop fully over five to seven years. SR (1/25)

Tim Boatman’s grandparents, Emilia and Eugene Moretti, emigrated from the mountain town of San Pellegrinetto, Italy in the early 1900s. In 1935, Emilia and Eugene were able to acquire this fifty-acre ranch that sits in the hills on the border of Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley. Eugene used the property for wood cutting and when he passed away he left the property to Tim’s mother and uncle. Tim purchased the property from them in the mid-sixties, when he was only nineteen years old. In 1972, Tim Boatman planted fifteen acres of zinfandel on the steep hillsides that surround his house. The rocky, east-facing terraces are ideal for growing intense, concentrated fruit.

Rainfall: 64 inches (above average)
Bloom: The end of June
Weather: Late and prolonged harvest due to consistently cool weather throughout the growing season.

Harvest Dates: 24 – 30 September
Grapes: Average Brix 24.1˚
TA: 6.08 g/L
pH: 3.81
Fermentation: Natural primary and natural secondary (malolactic) fermentations; seven vineyard blocks fermented separately.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (12% new and 88% five-plus years old).
Aging: Fourteen months in barrel

Sustainably farmed, hand-harvested grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush; 135 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Average Rating: 87.5

No. of Tasting Notes: 2

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