Ironstone Zinfandel Old Vine Reserve Rous Vineyard 2014

Multi-dimensional in aromas and flavors, this wine is generous and rich, offering plush, ripe blackberries, brown spices, clove, caramel and slight vanilla aromas and flavors, finishing with well-rounded tannins and a lingering dark fruit finish.

Fully mature grapes were harvested on September 4, 2014 at 25 Brix. Following hand harvesting, these precious grape clusters were fermented in our small rotary fermenter. After undergoing extended fermentation and maceration, the newly pressed wine was transferred into small French oak barrels and placed in our underground caverns. Hand-blasted by local miners, many whose families came for gold in the 1800’s, these caverns remain a natural 60 degrees Fahrenheit yearround temperature to ensure a fuller, richer and finer wine of true varietal character. Careful handling of these unique grapes from start to finish yields a wine that is true to world-acclaimed Lodi Zinfandels.

Grapes grown on these 105 year-old vines produce “Ancient Vine” Zinfandel that is so well-made its seamless characteristics are unforgettable. Multi-dimensional in aromas and flavors, this generously rich Zinfandel offers plush aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, brown spices, clove, caramel and slight vanilla, finishing with well-rounded tannins and a lingering dark, fruit finish. 2014 was a fairly mild and normal summer in Lodi without harvest precipitation. There were no extended heat spells and the temperature remained consistent throughout. Warm days combined with the cool Pacific Ocean breezes coming through daily in Lodi’s unique microclimate creating excellent growing conditions. This allowed for full flavors, intense color and balanced acidity.