R&B Cellars

Vineyards:
We have found over the years that oftentimes the best blend of a certain varietal will be better with a mix of vineyards within a region, and also that blending in a small amount of a complementary varietal can add significantly to the complexity of the final wine. This superb wine is a combination of Zinfandel from an exceptional vineyard in Contra Costa and a small percentage of Barbera (from the same vineyard), and an even smaller percentage of Petite Sirah from Napa Valley, which added considerable richness to the overall wine.

The Wine:
In order to create a rich and velvety yet fruity wine, we took Zinfandel from Rogers Vineyard showing bright berry and sweet jammy fruit character with superb structure. Barbera from Rogers Vineyard and Petite Sirah from Bingham Ranch, Napa Valley, was added in to the final blend for additional richness and intensity of fruit. The oak program, a combination of new French and American Oak, was limited so that the wine would be well balanced and supple. The wine was cross flow filtered, which also contributed to leveling out the tannins and making the wine eminently drinkable upon release.

Winemaker's Comments:
The wonderful fresh berry fruit from Rogers Vineyard combines with the smooth French and American oak flavors to achieve a super harmony in the bouquet and taste. The Rogers Zinfandel and Barbera, and the Napa Valley Petite Sirah combine to create a zesty complexity, a deep gorgeous color complexity and a soft mouthfeel. The Petite Sirah enhances the structure and color of the wine and punches up the darker berry fruit character in the wine. The bouquet shows fresh strawberry and raspberry with hints of pepper and spice. The flavors are ripe berry with creamy cherries and an elegant spicy aftertaste. This is the third vintage from this vineyard and we think it is our best to date. We extended the oak program for an additional three months to add greater complexity and structure to the wine.