2018 Zayante Zinfandel

Saturated garnet-red color. Aroma of intense dark berry, black plum, licorice and a hint of green olive. Ripe dark fruit on entry, full-bodied, crushed pepper spice, and rich tannins. Intense, layered complexity on the finish. JO (7/21)

This vineyard is located deep within the Santa Cruz Mountains, near the cool Pacific Ocean. 2018 was a mild growing season, requiring more time to ripen the grapes. On October 13, we picked and crushed the grapes into two small tanks. Once pressed, we combined the two, making a richer, more complex wine. Barrel aged for seventeen months, it clarified naturally. Though delicious now, it will continue to evolve over the next decade.

This vineyard is located deep within the Santa Cruz Mountains, near the cool Pacific Ocean. 2018 was a mild growing season, requiring more time to ripen the grapes. On October 13, we picked and crushed the grapes into two small tanks. Once pressed, we combined the two, making a richer, more complex wine. Barrel aged for seventeen months, it clarified naturally. Though delicious now, it will continue to evolve over the next decade.

Rainfall: 40 inches (normal)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: Winter rains were late to arrive, delivering a season’s worth or rainfall in March. This gave the Santa Cruz Mountains 75% of the 40 inches of rain for the year. Spring remained cold with heavier than usual fog, slowing the progress for an early October harvest.

Harvest Date: 13 October
Grapes: Average Brix 25.0˚
TA: 7.65 g/L
pH: 3.48
Fermentation: Grapes were destemmed and fully crushed; fermented with a floating cap and pressed at seven days.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (100% Appalachian) 15% new and 85% four years-old.
Aging: Seventeen months in barrel

All estate grown Green Earth Zayante Vineyard grapes, hand-harvested; 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 (35ppm at crush, 85ppm over the course of aging). In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.