PICK AND SHOVEL ZINFANDEL

Saracina

APPELLATION

Mendocino County

GRAPE VARIETIES

94% Zinfandel, 6% Petite Sirah

WINEMAKERS

Alex MacGregor

TECHNICAL DATA

Alcohol
15.2%

Where To Buy VIEW BRAND PORTFOLIO

BACKGROUND

Saracina is located along the Upper Russian River in northern California’s wine country. The 250-acre ranch which includes a winery and sustainably farmed vineyards, is also home to a 120-year-old olive orchards, vegetable gardens, bee hives, and all manner of bird and wild animal life. The handcrafted, limited production Saracina wines reflect a conscious sense of this beautiful place in Mendocino County. Founded by husband and wife team John Fetzer and Patty Rock in 2001, Saracina has always been defined by a strong sense of family. In 2018, Marc Taub took on stewardship of Saracina, upholding the spirit of family ownership that has defined this iconic Mendocino County winery since inception.

TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES

The 2016 Zinfandel is from the steep, organically farmed estate Pick and Shovel Zinfandel block, planted atop the Saracina wine caves in rocky soil with the DuPratt clone on St. George rootstock. The Petite Sirah hails from the dry-farmed Niemi Vineyard in Redwood Valley, where the soil is deep red loam.

The harvest of 2016 was a winemaker’s dream, following replenishing, drought-ending rains and a long and even growing season. The Zinfandel was harvested on September 9 and the Petite Sirah on the morning of September 24, 2016. The grapes were harvested by hand, de-stemmed and gently crushed into open top fermenters. We fermented with native yeasts. Free-run juice was drained directly into once-used Taransaud barrels. Native malolactic fermentation finished in the spring of 2017. The wine remained on fine lees and was bottled on August 2, 2018.

TASTING NOTES

The 2016 Zinfandel is unabashedly ripe and exuberant, with black raspberry, spice, and black pepper notes. The flavors are layered and long, with plush tannins and a zesty finish. This wine would be perfect with barbecue or a simple pulled pork at any time of the year.