1999 ZINFANDEL

PASO ROBLES

WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
The 1999 Paso Robles Zinfandel offers densely packed plum and berry fruit with hints of currants, spice and black pepper leading to a long, lingering finish. The acidity and full, soft tannins balance the intense fruit and contribute to a rich, mouth-filling wine that carries the 15.7% alcohol very well.

APPELLATION:
Paso Robles

VINEYARDS:
The Zinfandel grapes for this wine came from Sauret Vineyard, a large vineyard in a warm growing area within the Paso Robles region. The vineyard includes blocks of Cabernet and Petite Sirah in addition of Zinfandel, and typically provides very ripe fruit by mid-season.

VINTAGE:
Although the grapes were picked in early October, a typical time for this vineyard, the yeast fermentation proceeded slowly over the next year. Despite the inordinately long time to complete fermentation -- even the secondary malolactic fermentation finished earlier -- the wine proceeded to dryness and maintained the intensity of ripe Paso Robles fruit.

COMPOSITION:
Zinfandel 85%, Carignane 15%

AWARD:
Silver Medal
- 2002 Indy International Wine Competition
Bronze Medal
- 2002 The San Francisco Bay Wine Competition