2019 Sonoma Valley "Pagani Ranch" Alicante Bouschet
94% Alicante Bouschet
6% Zinfandel
A first for us! Back-to-back vintages of Alicante! Picked on October 14th, we knew right away this would be special. Why? Old-vine Alicante is slow to sugar-up, not just because it’s late ripening but also because it’s often impaired by virus (grapevine, not human). But with the warmth of 2019, sugar at harvest was a perfect 25.1 Brix. After a spontaneous fermentation and 21 days on the skins, the wine was pressed to all French oak, 18% new. 6% Pagani Ranch Zinfandel was blended in the following spring to add mid-palate texture and length to the finish. Unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Color? In a word, black. Our darkest wine of the vintage. Moderately intense aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and freshly tilled earth lead to similar flavors and a lovely creamy texture. Not as decadent as the 2004 nor as structured as the 2018, this rendition strikes a perfect balance between the two. Approachable now, if you like your wines on the young side, but best to wait a couple of years and enjoy with hearty foods anytime from 2025 to 2035. (MRO - 01/17/22)