Pedroncelli Zinfandel Bushnell Vineyard

Pedroncelli Zinfandel Bushnell Vineyard

WHY WE LOVE IT

  • Located on the eastern hillsides of Dry Creek Valley, the 22-acre Bushnell Vineyard has been closely related to the Pedroncelli family for over 50 years.
  • Winery founder John Sr. purchased the property in 1943, and, at the time, it was planted to Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignane.
  • The vineyard was sold to son-in-law Al Pedroni in the 1950s and he tended the vineyard for over 40 years. Al’s daughter Carol Bushnell inherited the vineyard in the 1990s and she and her husband Jim now farm it

Varietal Composition: 100% Zinfandel

Elaboration: Fermentation took place in a small capacity stainless steel tank which lends better skin-to-juice ratio. Daily pump-overs of juice over the cap extracted color, flavor and tannin. The young wine was transferred to American oak barrels (40% of which are new) to age for 16 months. The time in the barrel added complexity, creating many layers of flavor.

Tasting Notes: The deep red-purple of this wine shows great depth of color from the vineyard. Spicy aromas of ripe berries mingle with hints of black pepper, cinnamon and toasty oak. Opulent flavors of blackberry, plum, a touch of vanilla and rich cocoa frame this wine. A rich and full bodied Zinfandel with a lingering finish and well balanced between fruit and tannins.

PRESS

2016: 89 pts – Wine Spectator

PRODUCER BACKGROUND

Since 1927, when John Pedroncelli Sr. purchased vineyard and a small winery in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, two elements remain unchanged: the exceptional place the Pedroncelli family farms vineyards, and the family’s dedication to making fine wines. From selling grapes to home winemakers during prohibition in order to keep the vineyards going, to growing a small base of business during the 1930s and 1940s, to the second generation joining their father. The eldest, John, became winemaker in 1948 followed by the younger son, Jim in 1955, as sales director. In 1963 the winery was officially purchased by John and Jim from their father, to growing the line of wines in the 1960s with vineyard expansion and diversification, to the boom time of the 1970s and 1980s along with many changes and additions to the sales base including national sales and export. The third generation came on board and vineyard replanting in the 1990s to the 21st century refining their focus to restaurants and casual dining/meet-up wine bars and independent wine shops across the nation. The transfer of ownership of the company to the third generation (now a 70% woman owned company with a woman winemaker!) to the second decade in the new millennium where the fourth generation is coming up the ranks…Nine decades strong, they are still family owned and operated. It all adds up to tradition, heritage and a family of wines you can enjoy with confidence.

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