1996 Zinfandel, Sonoma County
Vintage
1996
Price
$18
Release Date
July 1998
Appellation
Sonoma County
Availability
Select Markets Nationally
Vineyards
- Dry Creek - Carreras, Taylor
- Sonoma Valley - JR Little
- Alexander Valley - Parker, Raggio & Weinstock
- Paso Robles - Shell Creek
Grapes
- 75.5% Zinfandel
- 10% Merlot
- 7% Petite Sirah
- 7.5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage
1996 was generally a warm growing season with an early harvest. But because the zinfandel vines from which this wine was produced are up to 100 years old and therefore have deep root systems that protect them against dramatic weather changes, harvest began as normal, on August 31. This, coupled with a reduced yield of 20%, produced grapes of enormous concentration and intensity.
Vinification
Eight lots of grapes, from seven ranches, were vinified, including those from the Carreras Ranch with vines that are between 65 and 100-plus years old, and those from the Taylor Ranch, with 25 to 85 year old vines. These were culled and individually fermented in small open top fermentors for between seven and eight days at between 75-88° Fahrenheit with daily punching down. The wine was aged in American oak for 14 months prior to blending and bottling, in March, 1998. Alcohol 14.8%, total acidity .61, pH 3.57, residual sugar .11. 4,909 cases produced.