Joel Peterson, the guy who for so many years brought us Ravenswood, is at it again, focusing on small batch, old vine wines from single vineyards. Located in Napa’s Chiles Valley, Green and Red Vineyard is owned by the Heminway family. This blend of 80% Zinfandel and 20% Petite Sirah is from the steepest part of the northeast facing slope of the section of the vineyard known as Tip Top. The two varieties are picked at the same time and co-fermented in an open top redwood fermenter using indigenous yeast for fermentation, and then aged in 30% new French oak barrels. Dark in color, it is loaded with concentrated black cherry, black fruit character with a pleasing layer of toasty oak. Full bodied, it is packed full of flavor yet vibrant on the palate with good supporting fine-grained tannins that give it a velvety texture and bring it to a youthful finish. Joel still has the magic touch with Zinfandel. 350 cases were produced.
Once & Future, Napa Valley (California) Zinfandel 2019
By Norm Roby