Zinfandel
Old Vines, 1991

Winemaker's Notes

July 1992 Pre-release: The style of this first vintage is of ripeness and well extracted fruit with supple tannins and restrained oak, allowing the vineyard personality to express itself. It is somewhat like Dehlinger Winery’s 1988 Petite Sirah, also made from my family’s vineyard. Pomegranate, coconut, black pepper, and deep blackberry flavors have developed so far, and the wine has rather long persistence of these flavors. I plan to bottle this wine without filtration, so it will undoubtedly throw a sediment with time (better to decant then to filter).

Because the volume of production is only several hundred cases, this project is free from the restrictions of a corporate mass‐marketing machine or catering to the tastes of wine writers and wine judgings. I expect to produce a Zinfandel with personality and potential for development, giving as much pleasure as you are willing to experience. This wine has already exceeded my expectations.

March 1993 Release: I’m pleased to announce the mid-April release of our 1991 Zinfandel you purchased on a futures basis last year. The wine was bottled unfined & unfiltered, and is showing very well right now.

After many restless nights thinking about a name for our label, we finally have one. As my family’s name, Scherrer, has been pronounced in the most creative ways, I was originally reluctant to use it on the label, fearing that people would not purchase something they had difficulty pronouncing. Many futures customers convinced me that my reluctance was unnecessary. Scherrer is pronounced like ‘share-er’ or ‘shear-er’, depending on the continent you come from. Either way is OK.

Judi & I have been overwhelmed by the positive response to our wine. We sold more wine than we had anticipated on our futures offering and we greatly appreciate everyone’s support and trust in us. It is difficult for a young couple to put together enough capital to do something worthwhile without the help of others. Between our parents, employers, coworkers, and customers, we have started to pursue one of my longtime dreams. We are quite lucky to have you. Thank you.