2009 York Creek Zinfandel

Cherry/plum nose with accents of fig and mint. Dark fruit flavors on the palate. Full, tannic structure, firm acidity, a nicely-rounded finish. (8/11)

After the very small harvest of 2008, the vines at York Creek set a more normal crop. Fully ripe, the grapes yielded a wine with layers of rich fruit. Vineyard parcels were hand-picked, and fermented separately on their natural yeasts. In spring, we selected Track, Kite Hill, and Mill for the final wine. As it aged in air-dried american oak barrels, we determined that including petite sirah (from Devil’s Hill at York Creek) would add structure and definition. Appealing and fullbodied, this opulent zinfandel will be at its best over the next six to seven years. JO (8/10)

York Creek Vineyard, situated high on Spring Mountain, overlooks St. Helena and the Napa Valley from the west. Ridge came here in 1971 for the old-vine petite sirah. We first harvested York Creek zinfandel in 1975, and have made it in every vintage since.

Rainfall: Thirty-four inches (below normal)

Bloom: Late May

Weather: A dry winter saved by spring rains and a warm, dry summer.

Harvest Dates: 21 – 26 September

Grapes: Average Brix 27.1

Fermentation: No inoculation; natural primary and secondary. Pressed at nine days.

Barrels: 100% air-dried american oak barrels (20% new, 30% one and two years old, and 35% four and five years old).

Aging: Twelve months in barrel.

York Creek Vineyard grapes, hand harvested. Destemmed and crushed. Fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria. 3 grams/liter tartaric acid and a total of 2 percent rehydration added to two particularly ripe parcels during fermentation. Minimum effective sulfur added (35 ppm at crush, 232 ppm over the course of aging). Pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

California Grapevine (Vol. 37, No. 5, October-November 2011): “Medium-dark purplish ruby; attractive, forward, plummy, briary, cedary, blackberry fruit aroma with hints of dill and dark chocolate; full body; forward, rich, plummy, peppery, blackberry fruit flavors with a firm gripping finish; medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended.” (Group Score: 16.5, 6/2/4; My Score: 17 [90/100], second place)

Average Rating: 89.9

No. of Tasting Notes: 112

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