Cart 0 items: $0.00
Your Account  |  Log In

2011 Kate's Zinfandel

Zinfandel was always synonymous with Paso Robles. Its distinctive big fruit and easy charm is embedded in the local winemaking spirit. Our Kate’s Vineyard Zinfandel has been a staple our Estate bottlings and a constant reminder that wine is meant, above all, to embody joy and pleasure.

Tasting Notes
Immense notes of briar fruit, caramel and plum emanate from the glass. Soft upfront red fruit and mincemeat is balanced by juicy acidity and spice laden tannin. The massive mid-palate strawberry jam gives way to hints of black pepper and smokey American oak leading into a long finish. Drinking well now, over the years the fruit will subdue a bit and allow the structure elements of this wine will really shine.
94 points, Gold, World Wine Championships
Out Of Stock
Add To Cart
$110.00
/ 750ml Bottle
Wine Club Exclusive. Sign in to purchase.
Out Of Stock

Wine Story

Vineyard Notes
Our Zinfandel all comes from our leased Kate’s Vineyard which lies in the Kiler Canyon of West Paso Robles. We have been farming the vineyard for 12 years and consider it truly part of our Estate. The vineyard is planted on an array of aspects, which allows the separate blocks to develop considerably different characteristics. This comes into play in the cellar as the separate lots are blended together to create single vineyard, single variety “blends” of amazing cohesion.
Winemaker Notes
2012 was a warm, dry year, the conditions that led to Zinfandel being planted in Paso Robles in the first place. The fruit on the vine was allowed to reach full physiological ripeness, with dark brown seeds and lignified stems. Conditions such as these tend to produce massive upfront fruit in young Zinfandel. In order to bring balance to the wine, tannin extraction needs to be maximized. To achieve this, we used a combination of 15% whole cluster fermentation and extended maceration. A regiment of twice daily punch downs and a pump over every third day promoted and gentle but steady extraction of phenolics. The wine was left on skins for 39 days, which also allowed us to extract seed tannin, which when fully mature gives the wine plenty of toasted woody tannin without having to rely on cooperage. The free run and press fractions were combined and allowed to complete malo-lactic fermentation in 20% new American heavy toasted Canton barrels and 80% neutral American barrels. After 13 months, the wine was racked out and 5% Petit Verdot blended in to add a bit more structure and color.

The Specifics

Wine Specs
Vintage
2011
Varietal
Zinfandel
Appellation
Paso Robles
Acid
6.7 g/L
pH
3.49
Alcohol %
15.8

Tech Sheets

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING: Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol.

WARNING: The packaging on this product can expose you to chemicals including Bisphenol A (BPA), which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol.

(close warning)