Cortina Zinfandel 2018

V I N E Y A R D SThe stronger marine influence of Dry Creek Valley keeps it cooler than Alexander Valley. In a normal season, Cortina will ripen later due to the prevailing afternoon breezes that typically temper the summer’s heat. With mornings shrouded in fog during the summer months, this ranch’s diverse soils consist primarily of a gravelly loam called Cortina. V I N T A G E2014 was one of the warmest growing seasons on record in Northern California. Rain in late-March paved the way for available water through budbreak and bloom, but sstained warm weather coupled with depleted water reserves culminated with a slightly early, furiously paced compact harvest that was completed before the end of September. V I N E Y A R D R E G I M E NStandard viticultural procedure for old vine Zinfandel includes a June pass to eliminate touching clusters or those on weak shoots. Mid-season canopy work is performed on the morning side of the canopy. Thinning at 80% veraison in August removes latent clusters. Finally, a touch-up pass is made just two weeks prior to harvest. Yields average 1.5 tons per acre. F E R M E N T A T I O N R E G I M E N100% hand punch-down fermentation in small (6-ton) open-top fermentors. Maceration time varied from 8 to 12 days. Completed alcoholic fermentation in barrel before undergoing malolactic fermentation.

Tasting with Andy Robinson, winemaker