89 Points - Wine Spectator, Sept 30, 2016 & 4 GOLD Medals
2014 was a warm and very dry year. Fortunately these grapes love heat and the struggle of the drought has produced beautifully dense fruit flavors. Wild Thing Zinfandel went through fermentation uninoculated, relying on a healthy WILD yeast population from the organic vineyard to create a terroir-driven complexity of aroma and flavors. Our wild fermentation started after a four day cold soak and was followed by a 23 day maceration. The must was déléstaged (pronounced 'del-ess-TAHJd) two times prior to the wine reaching 10°Brix. That is the fancy, French term for a rack and return—a process that aerates the wine, helps to maintain a healthy yeast population, and builds mouthfeel volume with gentle extraction from the skins.
Winemaker Notes:
Aromas of black cherry, ripe plum and raspberry fruit combine with a hint of graphite, cigar box, and vanilla-oak baking spice loveliness. Smoothly textured in mouth, and the palate is very creamy and round, with a finish that is long with lush jammy fruit.
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Harvest Date:
- September 15-16 (Carignane), 18-26 (Cox Zin),and October 6-7 (Petite Sirah & Zin), 2014
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Cellar Storage/Aging:
- 10 months in 87% American and 13% French barrels, 35% were new oak.
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Appellation:
- Mendocino County
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Release Date:
- July 13, 2016
