Description
Growing Season
The 2011 growing season was plagued by an unusually long stretch of spring rains, resulting in more shatter than normal which in turn required extended time and care – literally known as triage – at the sorting table during crush, to remove the “shot” berries. But even as we bemoaned 2011’s diminished yield, it was precisely that extra shatter brought on by the heavy spring rains that saved us during the unrelenting rains that hit at harvest. Periodic breaks in the fall rainy season allowed the loose clusters to dry out and continue ripening. It was a rollercoaster ride – as growing zinfandel tends to be – watching the fruit and hoping the brix would get to the right levels. Knowing just when to bring the fruit in was a guessing game because even with the best technology on hand we can only predict the weather to a limited degree. We usually take 30 days to harvest all of our fruit, but in 2011 we were done in less than two weeks. The history of this wild growing season is now bottled in our 2011 wines, and it is truly a thriller. Like a sailor who’s been out at sea battling stormy weather to make it home, the 2011 vintage has a spectacular story to tell.
Tasting Notes
Gorgeous garnet core and subtle ruby rim beguile the eye. Nose generously opens to reveal an otherworldly bouquet of hibiscus, rambling rose, exotic apple, and a rushing cascade of allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and cigar box. Once again the Rosemary’s Block component of this blend is most evident – mandarin, tea, and freshly grated ginger are interwoven with effervescent citrus and meringue. Also present are subtle notes of saddle, garden earth, and bay laurel with a touch of eucalyptus. Mouthfeel is joyously juicy, full, and rich, shadowed by gentle tannins that at first persist and then retreat to reveal a long, lingering, sublime finish.
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