Amapola Creek
2005 Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard
VIÑAS ANTIGUAS

The Vineyard

Our 2005 Zinfandel’s unique character derives from four-plus decades of winemaking expertise combined with the mountain terroir of historic Monte Rosso Vineyard and its famous red soils. These 115-year-old vines yield a mere one to one-and-a-half tons per acre. Their distinctive fruit is enhanced by the mineral-rich, well-drained, decomposed volcanic ash soils and by the cooling breezes of San Pablo Bay. The high elevation of the vineyard exposes the fruit to additional sunlight, ensuring consistent ripening. Tight 8x8-foot vine spacing, diligent pruning and dry farming techniques also concentrate the flavors of Monte Rosso grapes

Vintage

The 2005 growing season began with a cool, unseasonably wet spring. Careful pruning kept the vines from excessive growth. As the season continued, we were blessed with mild daytime temperatures and warmer nights, allowing the grapes to mature and develop deep flavors and fully ripe tannins. The grapes were harvested in late September at an initial sugar of 25.0 degrees Brix.

Wine

The gnarly old vines at Monte Rosso Vineyard produced a wine with incredible depth of fruit as befitting its venerable origins. Such intense fruit enabled us to make a truly distinctive Zinfandel. The wine was aged for 16 months in a combination of new and seasoned French and American oak barrels.This Zinfandel offers abundant, concentrated aromas of pure ripe blackberry and black raspberry fruit laced with delightful varietal spice. Bright, rich and very complex on the palate, the wine shows lush wild berry fruit, supple textures, well-integrated oak toast and vanillin, with peppery hints amid the ripe tannins on a very long finish.

This wine is unfined and unfiltered. Drink now or hold for 10-plus years.

$55.00 per bottle