Wild Thing Old Vine Zin 2018


Price: $20.00
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Averge Brix at Harvest:
25.0°Brix (average)

Alcohol:
14.5%

Total Acidity:
0.66

pH:
3.50


Cases Produced:
9085 cases (750)


Bottling Date:
March 23-24, 2020

Fact Sheet

Old Vine Mendocino Zinfandel is a treasure. Grown on the benchlands and slopes of mountainsides — this 60 plus year old vine Zinfandel was named for these wild- looking vines and also for the uninoculated, or “wild,” yeast ferment that was used to create it. It takes a lot of effort to tame this wild fruit, but it is worth all the trouble. Wild Thing is dangerously good! Remember – you are what you drink ….

Winemaker Notes:

Aromas of black cherry, ripe plum and raspberry fruit combine with a hint of 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.

Technical Notes:

We picked a portion of the vineyard at lower sugar than usual due to the threat of imminent rain, leaving the balance of the vines to ripen almost a month longer. Both lots were bled for concentration, and that saignée portion was used in our Rendezvous Rosé. As usual, our 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 30-day maceration. The must was déléstaged (pronounced 'del-ess-TAHJd) three-four 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.

Harvest Date:

October 5-8 and November 1-2, 2018

Average TA/pH at Harvest:

0.52 TA/3.55 pH

Cellar Storage/Aging:

14 months in American oak barrels 20% new and 1-yr-old, 20% 2-yr-old and 60% older French and American.

Varietal:

78% Old Vine Zinfandel, 14% old vine Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah *** Sustainably Farmed and Organically Grown

Appellation:

90% Cox Vineyard, Mendocino County

Release Date:

June 13, 2021