This is one of the strongest Old Vine Zinfandel bottlings we have made to date albeit a slightly different blend composition due to one of Mother Nature's curveballs. The main contrast this year is that one of usual main elements of the blend-Esola Vineyard from Amador County-was picked early for rosé to avoid potential smoke issues from nearby wildfires. As a result, the blend leans more heavily into fruit from Sonoma and Contra Costa counties. Fruit from the great Teldeschi Ranch comprises just over 20% of the blend, followed by Beeson, Sodini, Nervo, Dommen, Pagani, Papera, Evangelho, Pato, Katushas' and Bedrock-aka, a pretty sweet set of vineyards going into our most entry level bottling. The finished blend is 85% Zinfandel with 7% Carignan, 4% Cinsault and bits and bobs of Grand Noir, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet and other field-blended varieties. As usual, the average vine age is around 80 years old, which makes this truly an "old vine" cuvee. Our goal is always to make a wine that reflects what we love most about Zinfandel in California: to showcase its great fruit but also its spice, energy and freshness. Hailing from a drought year, this wine has an added degree of intensity to it that will make it great for early consumption or a little time sideways in the cellar.