2003 Zinfandel - Dry Creek Valley / Maple Vineyard - Tina's Block

GRAPE SOURCE
Maple Vineyard, Tina’s Block, located on a bench in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, is owned by Tom and Tina Maple. The Maple Vineyards consist of numerous blocks of zinfandel, a little petite sirah, and Tina’s Block, a 2.25 acre block planted in 1910 with a field blend of zinfandel (80+%), petite sirah, carignane, mission, black malvatia (aka cincault), grenache, and some still unidentified red varietal.

WINEMAKING
The wines made from this vineyard have been exceptional, with numerous Best of Show awards at major wine competitions and several 90+ scores from top wine critics. Zinfandel is a challenging grape to grow; susceptible to frost, mildew and bunch rot and notorious for ripening unevenly. As with our pinot noir production, our sorting belts allow us to sort out the imperfect fruit to provide the best quality possible. We allowed the fruit to “cold soak” prior to inoculating with L2226 yeast, known for its aroma and structure enhancing characteristics. This wine is wonderfully extracted with generous tannins supporting the center-stage dark berry fruits.

WINEMAKER'S NOTES
Intense aromas of plum jam, cooked blueberries, figs and dark berries, with intriguing nuances of cedar and sweet spicy oak. These wonderfully extracted flavors are mirrored on the palate and further complimented with classic black pepper, cardamom and nutmeg. The impressive balance between fruit, acidity and tannin creates a finish which is bold, yet polished. This wine will age beautifully with several years of careful cellaring. Enjoy with grilled meats.

Winemaker: Gary Farrell
Alcohol: 14.2%
Case Production: 413
Acid/pH: 0.72 / 3.37
Released: November 2005
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley

PAST VINTAGES
2002 Zinfandel - Dry Creek Valley, Maple Vineyard - Tina's Block