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2019 Russian River Valley “Saitone Vineyard” Zinfandel

It’s been a long five-year wait but Saitone is back! Just a few hundred yards north of Papera Ranch, planted in 1895, Saitone Vineyard is one of if not the oldest vineyards in the Piner-Olivet region of the Russian River Valley. Now owned by Williams Selyem, we are incredibly fortunate that they are willing to share some of this very special fruit with us. Picked on September 29th, the must was cold soaked for five days before inoculation with a local strain of yeast, appropriately named Williams Selyem. Pressed to all French oak, 25% new. Lightly fined with gelatin to smooth the palate but bottled unfiltered.

Tasting Note: 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.

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