2002 Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel

Near Aqua Caliente in Sonoma County, Monte Rosso consists of roughly 240 acres of vineyards. If there was a "first growth" for zinfandel, this would be one of the vineyards. The land was purchased by Emmanuel Goldstein and planted in 1880. Louis M. Martini purchased the 600-acre Goldstein Ranch in 1936, and renamed it Monte Rosso. Sections of Zinfandel planted in the 1890's are still producing grapes. The soils are iron rich, highly porous and undoubtedly well drained, allowing vines to develop extensive root systems reaching to considerable depths.

Monte Rosso is considered a low region II environment due to its proximity to San Pablo Bay, and high elevation. The land is virtually frost-free. The mornings are warmer than Napa and Sonoma Valleys. On the other hand, the afternoons are cooler so the vines suffer less from excessively high heat. Except for the youngest vines, the vineyard is dry-farmed. This results in less than 3 acres per ton of fruit.

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Varietals:	100% Zinfandel
Appellation:	Sonoma
Alcohol:	17%
Comments:	This wine is hedonistic to the extreme, almost like a Late-Harvest Zinfandel. Loads of brambleberry, dusty raspberry, and black cherry on the nose. The palate is rich, with a long sweet finish.
Reviews:	California Grapevine: 91 points Medium-dark purplish ruby color; attractive, spicy, very ripe wild berry and strawberry jam aroma with notes of dill, tobacco, toasty oak; full body; big, rich, jammy, textured, highly extracted, opulent, very ripe blackberry fruit flavors with some residual sugar; medium-full to full tannin; some alcoholic heat on the finish; lingering aftertaste. A huge wine that may have compatibility with only the heartiest of dishes, but nonetheless very enjoyable to taste. Very highly recommended.
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