2023 Russian River Valley "Papera Ranch" Zinfandel
96% Zinfandel
4% Carignan
Picked October 6th and 9th, yields in this generous vintage were nearly 3.2 tons to the acre. That’s on the low side for most modern vineyards but for a vineyard planted in 1934, a foison of fruit! As usual, the grapes were divided amongst multiple tanks with each tank treated a bit differently to build as many layers of flavor as possible. An average of 17 days on the skins and pressed to all French oak, including one new 600L demi-muid. Unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Beautiful medium-dark to dark crimson ruby. Classic Papera aromas of raspberry, red cherry, sweet brown tobacco, and blood orange. A slight note of menthol as well. The wine enters with full body but ample acidity keeps the wine quite fresh and lithe, not at all heavy or ponderous. Flavors of raspberry and blood orange carry through the mouthwatering finish. A wine that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a wide range of foods, from grilled salmon or ahi to a Flannery ribeye and almost anything in between. Slurp from release through 2034. (MRO - 07/15/26)