We christened the Monga Zin ® as we stumbled while saying its appellation too many times, probably after having too much of this HUMONGOUS mouthful of fruit and rich milk chocolate. These are “pygmy” vines planted on their own roots in 1918, organically grown and dry-farmed “bush vines” at the intersection of Hwy 210 and 15, 70 miles inland from LA. Low yield of 0.2 tons/acre makes it super concentrated!

Winemaker Notes:

Deep black cherry fruit, dried cranberry, orange zest, berry patch in the sun! Dusty vanilla-caramel oak, graham crackers, and cocoa. Fragrant Moroccan-Asian spices—Chinese 5-spice mélange… Mouthfeel is creamy yet tangy bright cherry, firm-sturdy tannins and a long, lush finish. Super concentrated. Quite drinkable now, but will age a good 15-20 years. Very mouthfilling!

Harvest Date:

August 1, 2022

Average TA/pH at Harvest:

.60 gm/100ml pH: 3.70

Fermentation Characteristics:

3 days of cold soak, fermented in SS Tank, Déléstaged 3 times before 14°Brix, Total 10 days on skins 3 days of cold soak, fermented in SS Tank, Déléstaged 3 times before 14°Brix, Total 10 days on skins.

Cellar Storage/Aging:

19 months aged in: 15% new American oak barrels and 85% older French/American oak barrels.

Varietal:

90% Zinfandel, 4% Touriga Nacional, 4% Carignane, 2% Viognier

Appellation:

90% Jose Lopez Vineyard, Cucamonga Valley, CCOF organic. Planted 1918, dry-farmed bush vines 90% Jose Lopez Vineyard, Cucamonga Valley, CCOF organic. Planted 1918, dry-farmed bush vines.

Release Date:

December 15, 2024