Winemaker's Notes
2024 was a gentle, even growing season in the North Coast. It was pretty much a trouble-free year with average crop levels. Harvest conditions were about as ideal as one could ask for, with no significant heat or rain, and no logistical challenges This is a truly lovely vintage with great balance and energy as evidenced by the 2024 Rosé.
2024 Scherrer Vineyard ‘Old & Mature Vines’ Zinfandel Futures
The name ‘Old & Mature Vines’ means it is made from old vines planted by my grandfather in 1912 as well as mature vines he, my dad and I planted in the 1970’s. Nearly 100% Zinfandel, harvested at the right ripeness level, can be strikingly elegant and age worthy which we have demonstrated for decades. And that isn’t as easy as it sounds. Zinfandel grape clusters are inherently variable. Each Zinfandel grape cluster has variability from green under ripe berries through the full ripeness spectrum of raisins. Wineries that don’t truly understand this grape will wait for the green berries to ripen. Unfortunately, that means the rest of the cluster moves even more over ripe towards raisins which leads to over ripe and over extracted wines. Fortunately, I’ve grown up with Zinfandel and I know how to work with it to let it quietly sing it’s own sweet, harmonious song.
Himalaya blackberries, red plum, hibiscus and white tea on the nose. Very juicy entry with hibiscus taking the lead. Sneaky persistence on the palate, never pushy, just present on the palate with retro-nasal aromas echoing it all while the mouth waters in anticipation of a bite of food and/or another sip. Delicacy. Inner-mouth perfumes, continuity, angles and rounds in balance, fruit and non-fruit balanced. This is what Zinfandel can be: multi-faceted and mouth-watering, food-friendly and age-worthy. Estimated release price: $42 per bottle. Futures price: $310 per case to be released April 2026.
2024 Scherrer Vineyard ‘Shale Terrace’ Zinfandel Futures
Very little clay and lots of fractured shale in this small section of our vineyard planted in the early 1970’s yields a wine of particular delicacy and unique profile. The tide and flow of growth is different than the rest of the vineyard due to the different way water and other nutrients get to the plant: More of a generous supply upfront when growing earlier in the season and less generous later on. This affects berry size, tannin levels and flavors produced.
Stone fruit, cherry pie, perfumes of grape flowers in bloom (as one who has their face close to these things at bloom late May), an unusually suave texture all converge to make what is my favorite representation of this unique site at this stage of development.
As this is a small portion of the vineyard, there is never very much. We have honored peoples’ past support of this wine and give those that purchased Shale in the past (even just a bottle) ‘first crack’ and orders received by August 31 will be processed first in the order they are received while the futures allocation lasts. Those who have not bought Shale before may place an order which will be placed on the ‘wish list’. Those orders will be filled in the order they are received if there are still futures available after the first-crack August 31 deadline.
And if you are not on ‘first crack’ for this, do not fear. We also hold back a bit of the Shale from futures so we will have some available at release next April so those not in the ‘first-crack’ offering can have a few bottles. About 120 cases to be produced. Release price $42 /bottle. Futures price: $310 per case to be released April 2026
2024 Scherrer Vineyard Zinfandel Futures Half & Half Split Case
This is a case of 6 of the Old & Mature and 6 of the Shale Terrace. Limits and allocation for Shale Terrace Futures apply. Futures price: $310 per case to be released April 2026
