Lot 89 2024 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel (Moon Mountain)
WINE FUTURE BOTTLING LATE AUGUST 2026 Zinfandel Perfection. Legendary Winery? Check Legendary Winemaker? Check. Hidden AVA? Check Incredible deal? Check. Perhaps the best Zinfandel offer ever? Check. Lot 89 2024 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel, while technically in the "Sonoma Valley" appellation, is sourced from well-over 50-year-old vines located at 2000-feet of elevation in the Maycamas Mountains. The producer of the wine would only sell it as Sonoma Valley (which actually encompasses Moon Mountain, Sonoma Mountain and Bennett Valley), but it is safe to assume the wine is from Moon Mountain AVA as Sonoma Mountain doesn't have the elevation nor does the Sonoma Valley floor (as one could imagine :-). The producer does not name the vineyard anywhere on their website, so it seems they go out of their way to protect that source. I think it's safe to assume its a gem of a property they'd rather not share. I've also been all over my Vinous vineyard maps of Moon Mountain but can't seem to pin down the vineyard...I thought at first Hanna Bismarck which has elevations but the vine age doesn't add up and Monte Rosso is too low in elevation as, it seems, is Montecillo. Oh well, I guess it shall remain a mystery. What is not a mystery is that this wine is an absolute gem and, with the producer bottling retailing for WELL OVER $60+/bottle a stunning deal at $129/case, I promise. Zin-lovers, it is indeed time to back up the truck, Zinfandel Perfection is here! Medium ruby/deep garnet in the glass with a deep-yet-bright and boisterous bouquet of brambly berries haloed with black pepper and fresh tobacco leaf and underpinned with notes of cedar and chocolate from seasoned oak. With air, hillside garrigue and purple flowers and vanillin notes complexing the bouquet. Plush, juicy and absolutely sumptuous on entry with a delicious texture delivering ripe black raspberry and cherry notes enveloped in toffee and chocolate. However, there is ample mountain minerality here with a terrific racy structure effortlessly carrying loads of ripe, boisterous fruit without ever crossing over into "jammy". Folks, this is one beautifully balanced and rich Zinfandel. Like I said, Perfection. Producer blend: 95% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah. We blended in Calistoga Petite Sirah to the blend so final composition is approximately 89% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah. 95% Sonoma Valley/Moon Mountain, 5% Calistoga ~40% new French oak 14.9% alc., 5.3 g/L TA, 3.9 pH, >.1 g/L Malic, 1.33 g/L Lactic ~200 cases available