Peirano Estate Vineyards “Illusion” Red Wine Blend
WHY WE LOVE IT
- This wine is a big winner for Peirano Estate Vineyards!! This collaboration between 4th generation winemaker Lance Randolph and his youngest daughter, 5th generation Alexis Randolph, is the best of “old-school winemaking” and “new-school winemaking!!”
Varietal Composition: Old Vine Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon
Elaboration: The grapes were hand-picket into small bins for the most delicate handling of the fruit. Once the fruit is received at the winery, each varietal is kept separate though the entire fermentation and aging process. Fermented on its skins, with extended maceration to dryness, it was then pressed and aged in French and American oak barrels, of which 15% was new oak. Peirano makes several blends and samples each one until they have found one that is greater than its parts.
Tasting Notes: The wine exhibits a rich deep burgundy hue with a perfect clarity. The aromas are a compendium of opulent plums, blackberries, black raspberries and white pepper. The palate explodes with rich mouth filling blackberries, juicy red cherries, plums, black raspberries and boysenberries. The long, seductive finish is filled with hints of toast and cola with firm, round, yet supple mouth filling tannins.
PRESS
2018 – GOLD-2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition | GOLD-Florida State Fair Wine Competition
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
The man in the awesome red shorts is Lance Randolph, and he is on a mission. His mission is to make the best wine to ever come out of the Lodi Appellation. Lance’s great grandfather, Giacomo Peirano, arrived in San Francisco in 1879 from his home in Genoa, Italy. By 1881, he started farming in Lodi, and year by year he steadily gained a place for himself pioneering vineyard and orchard development. Planted in the early 1880’s, Peirano Estate was one of the first vineyards in Lodi. Located in the very heart of the Lodi Appellation (granted in 1986), Peirano Estate Vineyards grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Viognier, Barbera, Petite Sirah, and has perhaps the largest single block of old, head-trained, natural rooted Zinfandel left in the state of California.
Nestled between the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Lodi has an ideal Mediterranean climate with deep, rich, sandy-loam soils and abundant quality water. These factors combine to make Lodi a major producer of quality wine grapes. Beginning with the hard work and inspiration of Giacomo Peirano, five generations have grown and harvested grapes from these vineyards for over 100 consecutive years.