In search of today's release, we ventured North into rugged Mendocino, just over the greater Sonoma AVA border, where we acquired a very limited quantity (only 100 cases) of gorgeous Zinfandel from a craft producer for an exceptional price.
Lot 438 boasts fruit from a sustainable, dry-farmed, centenarian vineyard (imagine ancient, gnarled vines so thick they look like tree trunks) where every year a slew of big name Napa and Sonoma houses contract fruit from this site for their clubs and tasting room programs. If you procure this wine from our source, it fetches $600+/case or $50+/bottle.
Our price: $18/bottle.
Our source used a balanced mix of French and American oak, with a light 20% 2nd pass wood program to ensure a more natural expression of terroir. Hailing from the ’21 vintage, Lot 438 should prove extremely age worthy. At 14.2% alc., it’s as elegant as it is powerful, and not your average 15%+ (well, lets be honest, 16%+) Zin.
Blackberries, tobacco leaf, and black cherry open on the nose haloed by peppercorns with cola and spice. Red-to black fruit are interwoven with further peppercorn and hints of mocha framed by perfectly interwoven yet grippy tannins with a deftly balanced acidity. The finish is dry with good length, returning with uplifted black cherry umami and spice.
14.2% alc.
