Wine Article

2005 Zinfandel, Ponzo Vineyard, bottled Feb 07. All the fruit in this, our fourth Ponzo Zinfandel, comes from Bob Ponzo's vineyard just south of Healdsburg. As in 2004, favorable spring weather brought a full set, and with it the need for rigorous thinning at veraison. Grapes ripen slowly in the cool Russian River Valley— a full two weeks behind Dry Creek Valley just to the north; picking began October 3 on the Old Vine block of interplanted zinfandel and petite sirah. Younger vines on the Back Block were given an extra week to ripen further and moderate their firm acidity. During naturalyeast fermentations we pumped over twice daily, and pressed at seven days. After a natural malolactic, Triangle and Back blocks were combined with the moretannic Old Vines. The wine was bottled after twelve months in air-dried american oak. The 2005 Ponzo is a beautifully balanced, sensuous wine. Enjoyable now, it will continue to develop over the next five to six years.

97% Zinfandel, 3% Petite Sirah