2020 Boatman Zinfandel

Nose of strawberry rhubarb, orange zest, star anise, garrigue and dark chocolate. Medium-bodied, nuances of blueberry, cigar box and vanilla with excellent mid-palate weight and structure. SR (11/22)

The growing season began early at Boatman Ranch. Warm weather throughout June and July hastened ripening for an early start to harvest on August 20th. Fortunately, temperatures then cooled off, allowing us to pick each of the seven vineyard blocks at perfect ripeness. Lower yields resulted in greater concentration and added structure to this appealing zinfandel. It will be enjoyable over the next eight years. JO (1/22)

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: 18 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: Rains in March and April helped the vines get through the summer.

Harvest Dates: 20 August – 10 September
Grapes: Average Brix 25.3˚
TA: 5.35 g/L
pH: 3.87
Fermentation: Natural primary and natural secondary (malolactic) fermentations; seven vineyard blocks fermented separately.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (10% new, 15% one year old, 20% two years old, 25% three years old, and 30% four 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; tartaric acid added; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush; 71 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.

Zinfandel Chronicles: 93 Points “Bright crimson in color. 14.8% ABV. 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite from Boatman Ranch situated on the border of Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. Sublime nose of red fruits, anise and pepper. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Structure and power in spades. Black cherry, raspberry, plums and bittersweet chocolate on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. One of those wines from Ridge that will age effortlessly. Best over the next 6-8 years.” -Tom Lee (March 2023)

Average Rating: 91.3

No. of Tasting Notes: 10

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