Peirano Estate Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel
WHY WE LOVE IT
- 2016 had an exceptionally long hang-time for the fruit, giving it the chance to develop layers of flavors.
- Combine that with the low yield of Peirano’s over 120-year-old Zinfandel vines, and you can see why they were excited by the intensity of the fruit.
- This wine is a first for Peirano – being barrel aged for 3 years!
Varietal Composition: 100% Old Vine Zinfandel
Elaboration: After hand-picking into small bins for the most delicate transportation of the fruit, the grapes were lightly crushed into the tank for fermentation. Fermented on the skins to dryness, it was then pressed and placed in our top 10% “food friendly” French and American oak barrels, of which 15% was new wood. Aging in this way, they are able to maintain and uplift all of the fruit and flavors to their fullest.
Tasting Notes: The initial whiff of this seductive wine produces aromas of bright red cherries, ripe strawberries, spice and toast. On the palate, you swirl this rich dark wine around in your mouth and the initial sensation is that of luscious, juicy, freshly-picked ripe strawberries. The second sip explodes with sweet black cherries and strawberry jam, with moderate tannins and juicy acidity.
PRESS
2016 – 90 Wine Enthusiast “Best Buy” | 88 Wine & Spirits “Best Buy”
2019 – 92 “Double Gold” Orange County Fair Commercial 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.