Saxon Brown Wines 2018 Zinfandel "Fighting Brothers", Sonoma Valley

Tasting Notes:

The 2018 Fighting Brothers Zinfandel is a big, concentrated wine offering a mouthfilling blend of rich plum, blackberry bramble, raspberry compote, dark cherry and chocolate with lovely accents of allspice and clove. On the palate the wine’s jammy core of concentrated fruit gains exquisite structure from polished, sweet oak tannins that linger on the endless finish.

Vineyard: 

Our 2018 Fighting Brothers Zinfandel is made from a mix of old and young vines, and is named for my two sons, who have blended their age-related differences into something approaching harmony. The old vines give us the complexity that comes from the traditional field blending of multiple varietals, while the younger sites give us lively acidity and bright, focused flavors. Together they produce a harmonious blend worthy of the Fighting Brothers that inspired it. 

Winemaking: 

The grapes were harvested in the early morning hours and transported immediately to the winery. In the cellar, the grapes were de-stemmed into an open-top fermenter 95% whole berry, cold-soaked for 48 hours, and inoculated with a low rate of yeast to allow the wild yeast to have an effect before the cultured yeast takes over. All lots were co-fermented to maximize the complexity and harmony of the blend. After fermentation, the wine was pressed to new and one year old French barrels for 18 months aging.