Searching for Zinfandel

I was inspired last night talking to Al Brush Battista who told me he was drinking a really nice Zinfandel from Sonoma. It was Bastoni Ranches Produced and Bottled by Sunce Winery Santa Rosa www.suncewinery.com 15 % alcohol. Al reported that it was Big, Rich, Dark as Night and really very nice. So this morning I had some time to do some searching out potential sources of Zinfandel in Sonoma. I have been doing some reading and from what I gather it seems the best quality is on hillsides and rolling hills.

The following are growers have Sonoma hillside topography.

Zinfandel	60	Petersen Land M…
Zinfandel	2	Green Pastures …
Zinfandel	40	Eagan Vineyards
Zinfandel	40	Peter Haywood
Zinfandel	40	REVM
Zinfandel	10	Elsbree Vineyard

The next grouping are Zinfandels from rolling hills topography

Zinfandel	30	REVM
Zinfandel	25	REVM

My Pick is Elsbree Vineyard or Eagan Vineyard. First up Elsbree….

Russian River appellation award wining small 5 acre hillside estate Zinfandel vineyard looking for partial or all home for it’s 2010 Harvest.

AVA: Russian River Valley	Variety: Zinfandel
Clone: Century Clone	Rootstock: 110-R
Spacing: 8 ft. rows, 5 ft. spacing	Topography: Hillside

• Terraced rockly hillside with excellent drainage
• East-West uniform crop density
• Canopy control
• Prune & manage for uniform crop density
• Hand harvest with quality control
• No til ground cover Rip only
• Wilbur-Ellis Chemical Monitoring (Armon Azevedo)
• Venturi air spraying
• Soil Moisture sensor monitoring
• Ozone water treatment for uniform drip system
• Ag solar power

I also think that the Eagan Vineyard’s 35-50 year old vine Zinfandel would be a great choice.

Russian River Valley / Chalk Hill Appellations / Premium Zinfandel / Some Head Pruner / Some Trellised / St George Rootstock / 40+/- Tons Available / Harvest Late September Early October 2010 / Vineyard On Slope / Eastside Russian River Valley / 3 Tons Per Acre / Farmed To Your Requirements /Inspection Of Vineyard Is Encouraged / Price Negoiated

AVA: Russian River Valley	Variety: Zinfandel	Tons: 40
Year Planted: 1920s to 1980s	Rootstock: St George
Spacing: Varies / 7 x 10	Topography: Hillside
Trellis Type: 3 Wire	Vineyard Manager: Independent

Your comment welcome!

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