2020 Frog's Leap Zinfandel Molinari Vineyard

Full bottle 1,231 g. Agglomerated cork. 84% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane co-fermented. Organic. Dry-farmed vines. 63% White Barn Vineyard, 17% Molinari Vineyard, 6% Ricetti Vineyard, 6% Gonzalez Vineyard, 8% mix of other vineyards including Galleron, Pesch and Leeds & Pesch Vineyards. The majority of the Petite Sirah was harvested before the Zinfandel and kept on cold soak for a week until the Zinfandel was harvested. Once the Zinfandel was fermenting the cold Petite Sirah must was added to lower the fermentation temperature and boost phenolics. Lots were pressed before dryness and finished in tank or barrel. Aged 10 months, 55% concrete cube and 45% used French and American oak. Harvested 25 August to 25 September at 24.1 Brix, TA 6.7 g/l and pH 3.46 to yield a wine of 14.6%, TA 5.7 g/l and pH 3.71. Bottled 19 November 2021. 7,300 cases produced. Made by John Williams, Rory Williams and Pablo Polanco. Farmed by Frank Leeds. Tasted blind. Medium ruby with just a hint of purple. Vibrant plumminess to the nose with blackberry and bramble. Well-balanced mouth-watering acid and sandy tannin. Very fresh. A charred plumminess carries on a fresh finish. Quite lovely but needs a year more in bottle. (SCJ)