60% Zinfandel 40% Carignane
Chapman Vineyard, Redwood Valley ACA
Mendocino County
USA
13.2% alcohol
From the producer: 'Drinks easy, you'd never know...'
That's very Jersey of Alex...
Carignane grapes are brought into the cellar, foot tread in picking bins, and left on the skins for 12 hours. The grapes are then pressed off and fermented in stainless tanks. The Zinfandel is direct pressed into stainless tanks. The juice is blended right after primary fermentation for a 5 month élevage in stainless.
The wine goes through full malolactic fermentation and is racked once before bottling.
The climate of this upland valley is cooler than surrounding appellations due to a gap in the coastal ridge which allows cool Pacific air currents to penetrate. These conditions lead to a gradual ripening of fruit. Vines: Carignane was planted in the 1960s, Zinfandel was planted in the 1980s.
The Carignane is head pruned and the Zinfandel is wire trained.