Extra-Fancy Old Vine Zinfandel

M_Dildine · May 30, 2016, 5:37pm

From Paso (Dusi Vineyard), Santa Cruz Mountains (Picchetti) and Sonoma Valley (Bedrock).

Happy Memorial Day!

Brian_Tuite · May 30, 2016, 5:47pm

M_Dildine · May 30, 2016, 5:47pm

AlexS · May 30, 2016, 5:55pm

Awesome lineup Mike, you’ve inspired me to grab some Zin.

Happy Memorial Day.

Peter_Petersen · May 30, 2016, 9:50pm

If that Dusi is a '14 make sure it gets plenty of air. It really transforms dramatically.

Philip_N_Jones · May 30, 2016, 11:19pm

Having trouble reading the middle one? Anybody?
Thanks,
Phil jones

M_Dildine · May 30, 2016, 11:27pm

Picchetti, 2012. Century old vines, planted just downslope of Ridge, off Montebello Road.

Paul_Miller · May 30, 2016, 11:36pm

Nice

Drew_Goin · May 31, 2016, 1:15am

Everything I have read about the Picchetti family indicated that they were done with wine by the 1950-60’s…

Am I thinking of a different family? The one that sold its big fermentation barrels and the unusual “grids” that Ridge ended up using for submerged cap fermenting.

M_Dildine · May 31, 2016, 1:40am

Drew, some info on Picchetti: History - Picchetti Winery

Drew_Goin · May 31, 2016, 3:28am

Thanks, Mike!

Here’s a picture of the site in 1965. According to Mr Charles Sullivan’s A Companion to California Wine, Sunrise Winery (BW 3682) took over the site in 1978. Vincent Picchetti bought 160 acres of land and planted a vineyard in 1877. The Picchetti Brothers Winery (BW 148) building was constructed in 1896.

Drew_Goin · May 31, 2016, 3:38am

Here is the mention of Mr Draper’s sourcing of the “grids” for submerged cap fermentation process from the old Picchetti operation:

Sean_Devaney · May 31, 2016, 6:43am

To add a little history the Picchetti Winery was still in operation in the early 60’s and the founding partners of Ridge would often buy jugs of their wine filled on the spot. Wine from the full barrels was quite good but as the barrels were drained the wines were less appealing. Ridge did make a few Picchetti Zins and when they combined the grapes from Picchetti vineyard with the Jimsomare Vineyard the wine was labeled as Monte Bello Zinfandel. I believe the last vintage of Monte Bello Zin was 1981. The clone planted in the Picchetti vineyard is considered unique and has been propagated by Ridge and other wineries. The property was sold/donated/gifted (?) to the Midpeninsula Regional Open space District when the Picchetti’s shut down the winery and the property is now a park with hiking trails. The winery and home on the property was originally leased to Sunrise Winery and when they went out of business was leased to the current owners of Picchetti Winery. A nice place to hike and have a picnic after the hike with some wine .

M_Dildine · May 31, 2016, 3:38pm

Thanks to Sean and Drew for the background on Picchetti - the '12 is a showy Zin, brighter and less rustic than Jimsomare, and more easily (to my palate) approachable young. The '11 was equally outstanding.

The Turley Dusi comes from head-trained, dry-farmed vines on the west side of 101 on the old Dante Dusi Ranch (1945). Ridge’s “Paso Robles” bottling comes from the east side of the freeway. Like recent examples from Ridge, rich, round, deep and simply delicious. Outstanding with grilled spareribs!

Bedrock is a very distinctive vineyard to me, a vineyard that greatly rewards patience. The Once and Future, delicious, savory and structured now, should be one to savor for decades to come.