2003 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ZINFANDEL
Rancho Bello Vineyard
The 2003 growing season was a warm one when reckoned by heat summation, the traditional method. However, much of the heat came late in the harvest, and consequently many varieties were ripe and picked long before the last few weeks of heat. On the other hand, Ottimino’s vineyards in the cool Occidental section of Russian River Valley basked in the uncharacteristically warm sunshine, which proved ideal for the even ripening of Zinfandel—not often the case with this varietal. Albert Bello’s vines carried a normal crop on their marginal Goldridge loam, about 2 ½ tons per acre, and sugars steadily rose to over 25 Brix by early October, when full flavors became more than apparent.
We followed our normal, minimal intervention practices. After de-stemming, the grapes were lightly crushed and then cold-extracted for two days with vigorous irrigation, which coaxed the color and tannin from the must early in the fermentation. This extraction process was maintained through to dryness, at which time the new wine was pressed and racked immediately to French oak for malolactic fermentation. Quarterly rackings softened the tannins and integrated the oak, which was coopered primarily by Francois Freres, Doreau, and Vallaurine. The wine was aged in barrels for eighteen months, and bottled without fining.
TASTING NOTES:
Blackberry and black cherry dominate the aromas, with white pepper and oak chiming in. The flavors add hints of blueberry, raspberry and cassis. Bold fruit at entry leads to a broad middle, and the finish is firm and persistent. This Zinfandel was designed for its versatility with food, and its heartiness should lead you to a broad spectrum of exotic pairings.
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TECHNICAL NOTES
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| Production Details |
Analytical Data
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| Blend: | 100% Zinfandel | Harvested: | October 28, 2003 | |||||
| Vineyard: | Rancho Bello | Brix 25.5º | ||||||
| Appellation: | Russian River Valley | T.A. 6.8 g/l | ||||||
| Aging: | Eighteen months | pH 3.58 | ||||||
| Cooperage: | Francois, Vallaurine, Doreau | Bottled: | June 6, 2005 | |||||
| Barrel Age: | 35% new/65% 1- & 2-year-old | T.A. 5.8 g/l | ||||||
| Production: | 712 cases produced | pH 3.78 | ||||||
