Description
From the Winery: "Once part of the Nicholas Carriger Estate (Nicholas Carriger was a good friend of General Vallejo and an early settler of Sonoma County after striking it rich in the Gold Rush), Saitone Ranch is the oldest of the old-vine vineyards remaining in the Piner-Olivet area with records indicating that the vines were in the ground and growing as early as 1895. Several blocks of Carignan, Zinfandel, Alicante Bouschet, and Palomino (aka Chasselas Doré) comprise the bulk of the remaining 17 acres of largely dry-farmed old vines. Interplanted Muscadelle, Colombard, Muscat of Hamburg, Aramon, Petit Bouschet, Criolla Mediana, and Grand Noir also make an appearance. Like Papera Ranch just down the road, picking is generally quite late for this vineyard, often towards the end of October.
Medium-dark ruby. Aromas of black raspberry and cherry cola are highlighted by suggestions of black licorice and lavender. Of all our 2019 Russian River Valley Zinfandels, this comes across as the darkest in profile, almost Southern Rhône in character and reminding me of one of my favorite old-vine Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache cuvées from the lieu-dit of Chapouin. On the palate, medium-full bodied. Flavors of black and blue fruits persist in the chalky yet gently tannic finish. At once both powerful and graceful, this will benefit from a couple additional years in the bottle. Drink this old-vine beauty from 2024 through 2030."