Sensory Notes: Big River Ranch zinfandel is the flagship wine of the Bella lineup. The bouquet features aromas of candied black cherry, well-integrated toasty oak and nutmeg. A full and luscious texture coats the palate while delivering a wave of dense red fruit and spicy clove. A delicate, yet hauntingly distinct, finish of sweet mocha and raspberry, rounds out the wine. Drink this elegant zin from spring 2009 through 2015.
Vinification notes: Fruit from Big River was brought in at peak ripeness, crushed, destemmed and put through a 14-day fermentation in our submerged cap tanks. The zin was soaked on syrah skins to enhance color and overall complexity. The wine was pressed off at full dryness and transferred to barrel.
Vineyard Notes: Located on a hillside above the Russian River, the Big River Ranch is a unique property in terms of location, climate and vine age. The backbone of this zinfandel is 14 acres of 110-year-old vines. Vine age limits the yields and provides shockingly dark and perfectly ripe fruit. Big River boasts the deep red soil and hot summer days that give the Alexander Valley its stellar reputation for big, complex wines. It also benefits from the coastal cooling effect and early-morning fog of the nearby Russian River Valley. The result is longer “hang times” for the coveted fruit coming off these ancient vines.
Vintage Synopsis: 2006 was a challenging but rewarding growing season. Cooler fall temperatures made for a prolonged harvest that allowed the grapes to develop deep, rich flavor and color. The brief threat of rain in early October put us on the alert, but with some moderate thinning and cluster sorting, an excellent vintage was achieved.
Strictly limited production.