VINEYARDS
El Dorado Vineyard is situated 1,650 feet above sea level in the Sierra Foothills. Its sandy soils, complex topography, and high elevation are ideal for Zinfandel, bringing warm days and cool night air. The vineyard is Fish Friendly Farming Certified.

WINEGROWING
Heavy rains in February led to a warm summer which then turned cool in August, resulting in a later harvest than the last few years. What followed was a long warm fall with near-perfect growing conditions and extended hang time. In the end, it was one of the longest harvests on record and, also, above-average crop size. Sustainable farming practices throughout the growing season were tailored to each block with the assistance of aerial photos produced using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) technology. The fruit was handpicked at dawn and sorted in the vineyard.

WINEMAKING
The grapes were carefully destemmed and optically sorted to ensure only perfect fruit made it into the wine. A cold soak extracted color and flavor before primary fermentation began in tank. The wine was gently basket-pressed, then racked to oak barrels to finish primary fermentation, malolactic fermentation, and aging.

TASTING NOTES
This wine is ruby red with a bright hue, with aromas of floral raspberry, ripe black berry and briar notes. The aromas are echoed on the palate along with expansive and dense flavors of baking spices, vanilla and dried florals. The ripe tannins frame the palate and provide a balanced texture to give the wine structure and roundness.