To get elegance and acidity out of Tempranillo, you need a cool climate. But to get high sugar levels and the thick skins that give deep color, you need heat. In the USA, these two opposites are best reconciled in Lodi, CA where the days are hot and the evenings are cool. This is one of our favorite wines we have ever produced.
We keep going back to the Soucie Vineyard in Lodi, CA for this amazing fruit. This 2018 Ancient Vine Zinfandel (from a 102-year old vineyard) has 2% Petite Sirah blended in for a bass note (we call it the subwoofer effect).
We use Cabernet Franc grapes in our Bordeaux-style blend (called El Matador) and as a single-varietal, single vineyard wine. Back by popular demand, this 2017 Cab Franc was blended with 20% Merlot.
Lodi and Amador AVA Petite Sirahs have become must-haves for us. This vintage is a mouth full. The deep, rich color is breathtaking. The aromas are powerful. And the taste lingers in your mouth. We were awarded a gold medal for this wine at the 2020 SIP wine festival.
These vines were planted in 1900 which made them 118 years old when the grapes were harvested in 2018. According to Wine Folly, "Carignane works well with cinnamon-spiced dishes, berry-based sauces and smoky meats. In other words, it's an amazing choice for Thanksgiving and holiday fare."
In 2018, we made three ports separately: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. When we bottled in 2020, we blended the three ports to make our decadent California-style ruby port. In our tasting room, we serve it with organic dark chocolate (70% cacao) without soy lecithin.
