St. Francis Reserve Zinfandel 2019, Dry Creek Valley, California

The 2019 Reserve Zinfandel flavors and aromas linger in this elegant and expressive Zinfandel. Juicy dark cherry, fresh boysenberry, and blackberry pie lift deep notes of black tea, baking chocolate, and spice. The wine is focused from beginning to end, with supple tannins, good structure, and a refreshing acidity on the finish. This Reserve wine is a combination of both valley floor and hillside fruit from the northern end of Dry Creek Valley, a renowned Zinfandel growing region. Warm summer heat and well-drained soils result in concentrated, intense fruit. This Reserve wine also includes Petite Sirah. The thick skins and hefty tannins of these grapes add color and texture to the wine while also contributing balance and length. The 2019 Reserve Zinfandel grapes were hand-sorted and underwent an extended cold-soak for five days. Infrequent pumpovers during fermentation allowed for greater color extraction and the ability to control tannin levels. We then allowed the wine to age for 20 months in oak barrels, 40% new, to achieve full integration. 85% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah.