2003 Zinfandel

Westside

The Wine

Zinfandel from the Lock Vineyard on Paso Robles’ Westside was hand picked in the cool of the morning and sorted for quality. It was gently crushed and then allowed to ferment in small stainless steel tanks. During fermentation 20% of the juice was bled off to concentrate the remaining wine. Hand punch-downs of the cap occurred throughout fermentation. A small portion of Petit Verdot from the Huerhuero vineyard was added to improve mouthfeel and texture. The wine was then transferred into barrels to complete malic fermentation and spent 14 months in 15% new French oak. The finished wine was lightly filtered before being bottled.

Enjoy now through 2010.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep purple, very intense
• Aroma: Plum and boysenberry with spice and a touch of earthiness
• Taste: Big, full-bodied and packed with intense and sweet, ripe fruit; this wine has wonderful flavors of dusky plums, brambles, boysenberries and raspberries; the fruit is supported by ripe but fine tannins; long pleasant finish