2003 Gallo Family Vineyards SONOMA COUNTY Zinfandel California
Name:
Gallo Family Vineyards SONOMA COUNTY Zinfandel California - 2003
Where it's from:
>USA
>California
>Sonoma County
Price per case:
£71.03
Bottle size:
75 cl
Bottles per case:
6
Style:
Powerful Reds
Grapes:
Zinfandel
Description:
Winemaking has been a tradition in the Gallo family for almost 70 years and in developing the Ernest & Julio Gallo Sonoma wines, the winemakers have made a careful journey from vine to wine.
The journey begins in Sonoma County where cool ocean breezes, lingering coastal fog and the warm sun nurture the ripening grapes. It ends with patient barrel-by-barrel tasting during fermentation and ageing to ensure that the potential tasted on the vine is captured in the bottle.
Great wine is made in the vineyard and much of Sonoma's success is rooted in a consistent pattern of warm days and cool nights during the summer months. Such climate makes for a long growing season with plenty of hang-time for the grapes, producing full-bodied vintages as well as being rich in concentrated flavours of ripe plum, dark berry and spice.
Upon their arrival at the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed but not crushed, resulting in 20-30% whole berries. Next, they were cold soaked with the skins for 24 hours, a technique that helps stabilize and capture delicate flavour nuances.
Primary fermentation was accomplished in mostly upright, stainless steel tanks and lasted no more than 5 days at temperatures ranging from 88-92 F. The wine was then barrel aged for an average of 5 months in new and seasoned oak to enhance complexity and smoothness.
Very much a Sonoma Zinfandel, displaying all of the characteristic power and grace for which the county has become famous. Exciting aromas of dark plum and cherry richly foreshadow an even deeper palate of berry pie, black fruit jam and spice. Barrel ageing has not only given this vintage well-balanced structure; it has added warm notes of coconut and vanilla to the finish.
