Encyclopedia · Red grape
California's heritage grape (genetically Primitivo). High alcohol is the constant — grapes ripen unevenly, requiring late harvest. Dark fruit, dried fig, peppery spice, and bramble. Always generous, rarely restrained.
Acidity med · Tannin med · Alcohol very high
Climate Warm. Gravel benchland soils. Some of California's oldest Zinfandel vines.
Style Old vine standard. Moderate new oak. More structured and less jammy than Paso.
Tell Blackberry and raspberry, black plum and dried fig, green peppercorn and cinnamon, high alcohol
Climate Warm to hot. Large diurnal range. Calcareous soils in west. Fruit reaches very high sugars.
Style New oak standard. High extraction. Most powerful Zinfandel expressions.
Tell Blackberry and black plum, prune and dried fig, cinnamon and vanilla, very high alcohol warmth
Climate Warmer than Sonoma Coast. Varied soils from volcanic to clay. More moderate than Paso.
Style Moderate oak. MLF standard. Ripe but not as extracted as Paso. More balanced.
Tell Blackberry and dark cherry, dried fig and green peppercorn, anise and vanilla, high alcohol
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