2020 Black Label Zinfandel - Perrin

It takes time to learn the wines from each vineyard and the Perrin Zinfandel was no different. Our first experince found that some of the extraction techniques we’ve used on other Zinfandel fields were just too overbearing on this one. The Perrin Zinfandel tended to overextract big bitter tannins too quickly, so in our 3rd and last vintage we pulled back on punch downs and pressed off slightly earlier reducing the overall extraction time. We picked the grapes around 26 and yet again soaked up to above 3oº brix as is typical for Zinfandel. Post fermentation we aged the wines in a mix of medium & medium plus American oak barrels for 30 months yielding a wine that’s super full on the palate and loaded with the richness that defines “Black label”. On the nose it’s beautiful aromas of berry pie and sweet baking spice are complimented by hints of chocolate on the nose. Full-bodied with smooth tannins, this wine has bold flavors of dark cherries and fig, finishing with notes of toasted oak, vanilla, and spice.

The Vineyard:

So many cool old vineyards in Lodi. Over the years of being tended, simple pruning styles leave distinct impressions on these old vineyards. One farmer may choose to prune tighter so over time the old vines may stay more compact and closer to the ground. While another farmer may choose a style leading to larger vines. This is one of those fields, at over 65 years old where the vines spread tall and wide like small oak trees with limbs reaching out wide. When grapes hang from these vines, the entire canopy extends wide and open providing the perfect balance of airflow and sunlight to the ripening grapes. Sitting out on the west edge of the Lodi appellation, where the soils are fast draining sandy loam, these old vines are forced to send down exceptionally deep roots into the soil to capture the fleeting moisture.

Beautiful aromas of berry pie and sweet baking spice are complimented by hints of chocolate on the nose. Full-bodied with smooth tannins, this wine has bold flavors of dark cherries and fig. finidhing with notes of toasted oak, vanilla and spice.