2023 Ponzo Zinfandel

Perfectly ripe pineapple, raspberry and hints of clove spice on the nose. Elegant and balanced with briary black raspberry, fresh cranberry, Tahitian vanilla and a long, juicy finish. SR (6/25)

Heavy winter rain and a cool summer slowed ripening. Fortunately, heat in early October matured the fruit before the rains. Old Vine and Front blocks were picked on 10/14, and the Back block on 10/18. In blind tasting, the Old Vine and Back blocks were selected. With intense fruit, typical of the Russian River Valley, and bright acidity, characteristic of the vintage, this elegant zinfandel will be most enjoyable over the next six years. SR (12/24)

Bob Ponzo has farmed these vines in the Russian River Valley for over 40 years. The vineyard, planted on deep gravelly loam soils, is four and a half miles south of Lytton Springs. Here, the Russian River Valley’s cooler microclimate ripens the grapes later than at Lytton Springs and Geyserville. Small amounts of petite sirah are interplanted with zinfandel in the oldest block.

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

Harvest Dates: 14 – 18 October
Grapes: Average Brix 25.2˚
TA: 7.84 g/L
pH: 3.55
Fermentation: Grapes destemmed and crushed, pumped over a floating cap.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (9% new, 9% one year old, 10% two years old, and 72% five-plus years old).
Aging: Fourteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested, Bob Ponzo vineyard 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, 105 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.

OwenBargreen.com: 95 Points “The 2023 ‘Ponzo’ is nearly all Zinfandel from the Russian River Valley. It is dense and chewy stuff, as refined tannins meld well with a glorious core of dark fruits and chocolate tones, with coffee grounds, freshly tilled loamy soils and shades of cardamom all combine on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with great freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2038.” -Owen Bargreen (June 2025)

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