Palate
The 2015 Fanucchi Vineyard Zinfandel displays ripe blackberry, boysenberry and violet aromas and flavors along with silky chocolate notes on the finish. Carrying on the tradition of this ancient vineyard, the wine has a tremendously dense, round texture complemented by big fruit and great power.
Growing Conditions
The 100+ year old Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard is located on about seven acres along a slight rise off Wood Road in the Russian River Valley AVA of Sonoma County. It is dry-farmed and has been hand-tended by the Fanucchi family for over 35 years. The vineyard is head trained, but Peter Fanucchi raised the gnarled old vines from just above ground level to chest height. This modification seems to provide greater sun exposure and air circulation and to have reinvigorated the old vines, enhancing the production of high-quality, old-vine fruit.
The soils on Wood Road are sandy loam of relatively low pH and fertility. Old vines on these soils produce small Zinfandel berries with bright, concentrated cherry and blackberry fruit flavors. At optimum ripeness, the fruit makes a big, intense, long-lived Zinfandel of unique personality.
Bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Aging
10 months in 100% French oak, 42% new.
