2019 Guadagni Zinfandel

Enticing aromas of blackberry and currant with a hint of leather. Rich flavors of ripe fruit and allspice on the palate. The finish is long with velvety tannins. MB (7/21)

Plentiful winter rains replenished the groundwater at this Dry Creek vineyard. The vines responded with a full crop that ripened slowly in the summer heat. We harvested as flavors developed, the zinfandel on September 18 and then the petite sirah on September 27. To add depth and richness, we included more petite sirah than usual. Fourteen months aging in barrel brings further complexity. Enjoyable now, this outstanding zinfandel will be at its best over the next seven years.

Owned and farmed by the Guadagni family for over fifty years, this vineyard grows in the rocky soils at the northern edge of the Dry Creek Valley. At a very young age Fred Guadagni’s two sons, Don and Joe, worked many hours at his side, as he taught them the skills necessary to produce the grapes that make the wines of Dry Creek Valley so desirable. Planted primarily to zinfandel; petite sirah from an adjacent parcel was added this year for color and depth.

Rainfall: 61.2 inches (above average)
Bloom: May
Weather: Total rainfall for the season was over 61” – almost double our usual amounts. The vines responded with bountiful yields of great quality.

Harvest Dates: 18-27 September
Grapes: Average Brix 24.1
TA: 6.06 g/L
pH: 3.73
Fermentation: Grapes destemmed and crushed, pumped over a floating cap twice daily, pressed at eleven days.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (20% new, 15% one-year-old, 15% two-year-old, 25% three-year-old, 25% four-year-old).
Aging: Fourteen months in barrel

Sustainably farmed, hand-harvested, grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by a full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 66 ppm during aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

OwenBargreen.com: 95 Points “A blend of 76% Zinfandel with the remainder Petite Sirah, the ‘Guadagni’ is exceedingly polished with firm tannins that mingle with red cherry candy, leather, black tea and exotic spices. Full-bodied with plenty of structure and bright acidity, this is a sumptuous bottling that has a long life ahead of it.” -Owen Bargreen (August 2021)

Blue Lifestyle: 94 Points “A dazzling Zin from the Dry Creek Valley that shows bright fruit, lively acidity, and marvelous depth.” -Anthony Dias Blue (September 2021)

Wine Enthusiast: 93 Points + Cellar Selection “Subtle but beautifully concentrated, this firmly structured wine wraps blueberries, rasp- berries and light baking spices in velvety tannins for a quietly powerful expression that begs for more sips. It contains 24% Petite Sirah. Best from 2024.” -Jim Gordon (January 2022)

Zinfandel Chronicles: 92 Points “From a Dry Creek Valley vineyard where the Zinfandel vines date back to the 1950’s. Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. 76% Zinfandel and 24% Petite Sirah. Super nose of red fruits, baking spices and pepper. Full bodied with perfect acidity. The Petite Sirah is prominent. Well balanced. Cherry, black raspberry, spiced plums and white pepper on the palate. The finish is long with pronounced tannins. This has a long life ahead of it. Best over the next 6-8 years.” -Tom Lee (September 2021)

Average Rating: 90.9

No. of Tasting Notes: 31

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