Winemaker's Notes
I racked and created a faithful blend of this to show what was to come at the August open house barrel tasting. However, the majority of the barrels were left alone on their initial lees right up until bottling. I have found that with other varieties like Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Chardonnay and even Cabernet Sauvignon, this technique has been a subtly positive step toward my end of preserving aging potential and layering both texture and perfumes upon earthy nuances.
What sets our OMV apart from most Zinfandels is that it is layered and subtly nuanced. It is not primarily a fruit-driven wine with obvious one or two types of flavor-all front-loaded with little carrying capacity. What’s going on with Zinfandel? This variety ripens unevenly on each cluster. It is a varietal characteristic that vexes or amuses those of us who work with it. I embrace this characteristic, choosing to harvest after enough of the berries are really ripe and have great generosity, yet making sure that there are enough of the less developed population on each cluster as well. Why? These less-developed berries bring redder fruit characters, more acidity, and of critical importance: oxygen scavenging appetite. Fortunately, Zinfandel’s variably ripened berries play nicely together (unlike most other vinifera varieties that may become muddled or unfocused due to the variable ripened components). Where we differ, from many houses, is that we are looking to layer in complexity from within the variety and site rather than by including different varieties to achieve a similar end. What I’m looking for is a wine that transcends traditional varietal expectations while working within natural varietal boundaries. What a paradox!
Now that we have just blended and bottled it, I am impressed with the mouthfeel and length of the boysenberry/bramble fruit and mildly earthy/meaty nuances. As essentially 100% varietal Zinfandel, this has darker, more earthy tones which can be best explained by material and approach. There is a spiciness that runs just below the surface that emerges gently on the finish, drawing out everything that came before. Still a bright, salivary-eliciting wine, it has substantial presence that I attribute to the extra time as ‘a whole package’ after putting to barrel in the fall.
Judi Scherrer –
Vinous – April 2018
Tasted from barrel, the 2016 Zinfandel Old & Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard possesses terrific power, richness and density. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle. (91-93 points). Antonio Galloni
Judi Scherrer –
California Grapevine – June 2018
Medium-dark ruby; attractive, ripe, spicy, strawberry and boysenberry fruit aroma with good depth and intensity; full body; forward, rich, ripe, layered, concentrated, red and black fruit flavors with good depth, bright acidity, and a slight jammy character in the mouthfeel; medium-full to full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Enjoyable to drink now, though worthy of a few more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. My Score: 17 [91/100], first place Nick Ponomareff
Judi Scherrer –
Vinous – May 2019
The 2016 Zinfandel Old & Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard is the most nuanced of the three Zinfandels I tasted from Scherrer. There is plenty of depth as well, but the Old & Mature Vines has a level of delineation that is compelling. Cedar, pipe tobacco, mint, dried flowers and herbs all grace this exquisite, inviting Zinfandel. I would give the 2016 a few years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften a bit. 93 points. Antonio Galloni
Judi Scherrer –
Wine Spectator – June 2019
Sleek and elegantly complex, with appealing cherry, pepper, and bay leaf accents that build toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2024. 90 points.