Day Zinfandel 2018, Grist Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, California

Day is the new Zinfandel project of Ehren Jordan, the mastermind behind such amazing labels as Turley, Neyers, and Failla. When he purchased a St. Helena property back in 2004, he knew he wanted to plant grapes on the hillside that at the time contained an apple orchard. After a few years of pondering, he decided that the locale was ideal for one of his early loves in the vine world – Zinfandel. Named for the old grist mill that was found on the property, Grist sits pretty at 1000 ft. elevation on Bradford Mountain in the Dry Creek Valley AVA. The site was originally planted 100 years ago, and has since been replanted in the early 1970s. Farming here is CCOF Organic. The 58 acres under vine are head trained and cane pruned, and have spectacular views of the fog line driving in 15 miles west from the Pacific Ocean. Between Grist and the beachfront lie 15 miles of mountain lions, deer, and unspoiled forest. Soil – Boomer Loam – Iron rich, red volcanic soil lead to low yields and concentrated wines. St. George Rootstock. Temperature – Peak temperatures in the summer time tend to be in the low to mid 80s, allowing for gentle and complete ripening without rasining.