2022 Mancini Ranch

Aromas of red plum, dusty strawberry, and purple flowers. A bright and fresh entry with a medium body. Flavors of Bing cherry, rhubarb, and plumcot. Well-structured mid-palate tannins with firm acidity make for a balanced, age-worthy wine. TG (8/23)

The Russian River Valley is known for its cooler micro-climate, which provides this one-hundred-year-old vineyard with the consistent quality and distinct character of an exceptional terroir. Planted to carignane and zinfandel, the vineyard has been meticulously farmed by Max Reichwage since 2015. Fresh red fruit gives this wine an immediate appeal, even in its youth. Its bright acidity will assure six or seven years of graceful aging. TG (9/23)

Luca Mancini planted this 15-acre vineyard between 1922 and 1924. It is located west of Santa Rosa at the corner of Olivet and Piner Roads. While it consists mostly of zinfandel vines, there is also a significant portion of carignane where we source our fruit. The cool summers of the Russian River Valley add to the distinct acidity associated with carignane. Fruit, nut, and oak trees are interspersed in the the vineyard, making it a very special vineyard.

Rainfall: Over 23 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Mid May
Weather: 2022 was the third year of drought. Thankfully, we received spring rains that helped the vines. These same rains caused shatter in our zinfandel, reducing their crop. Two heat spells pushed the vines to another early harvest.

Harvest Date: 15 September
Grapes: Average Brix 24.6˚
TA: 6.61 g/L
pH: 3.4
Fermentation: 100% de-stemmed and crushed fermentation
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (7% new, 29% one year old, and 64% three years old).
Aging: Fourteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested grapes fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring malolactic bacteria; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 68 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.

JamesSuckling.com: 93 Points “A field blend from old vines, 61% carignan, 32% zinfandel and 7% alicante bouschet. Very fresh, well-balanced, even crunchy, with focused berries and black plums on a broad texture and full body. Drink or hold.” -Jim Gordon (May 2024)

See all food pairing recipes we have created specifically for this wine.