Nose
"This seductive Zinfandel offers up a rich bouquet of forest fruits, wildflowers, and enticing anise and white pepper notes, complemented by a subtle minerality. The inviting fragrances perfectly translate into pure, rich layers of blackberry, tart cherry, and plum on the palate, elevated by elegant balance and a silky mouthfeel. The medium toast American oak adds slight coffee undertones, all pulled together in this sophisticated Howell Mountain Zinfandel. A true beauty!"
Palate
"This seductive Zinfandel offers up a rich bouquet of forest fruits, wildflowers, and enticing anise and white pepper notes, complemented by a subtle minerality. The inviting fragrances perfectly translate into pure, rich layers of blackberry, tart cherry, and plum on the palate, elevated by elegant balance and a silky mouthfeel. The medium toast American oak adds slight coffee undertones, all pulled together in this sophisticated Howell Mountain Zinfandel. A true beauty!"
Growing Conditions
February saw abundant rains, followed by lots of filtered light in spring and early summer. Both bud break and flowering occurred a bit late but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Summer brought generous sun during the day and cooler marine influences, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes. The relatively mild summer followed by extended fall sunshine and moderate heat created near-ideal conditions for winemakers to allow their fruit to accumulate flavor complexity with gradual increases in sugar levels. We saw a 20-30% increase over average crop quantity.
