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.
