The Defector 2010

2010 Zinfandel Reserve
Dove Pond Vineyard
Paso Robles, California
150 cases produced

Vineyard Notes:

Dove Pond Vineyard is located directly adjacent to our own property in the Templeton Gap area of the Paso Robles AVA. The 18 + acre site is separated from our field by just a narrow strip of oak trees and shares the same distinctive calcareous shale and sandstone soils. Irrigation is very limited and the vines are planted north-south, taking full advantage of the warm summer growing season. The result is low yields of dense, high quality fruit.

Winemaker Notes:

For our Reserve Zinfandel, we carefully selected the best barrels from the 2010 crush. It was by no means an easy task. The Dove Pond fruit gave us very consistent quality across the board. We finally landed on a blend with a slightly higher percentage of new oak. Hints of raspberry and eucalyptus on the nose. On entry, layers of both black and red fruit ease into a lush mid-palate, punctuated by spice and pepper notes. The oak lends a toasty quality to the long finish. Drink now through 2018.

Production notes:

Pick date:  November 11, 2010
Brix at harvest: 25.2
30% new American Oak
TA: 7.7 g/L
pH: 3.45
Alcohol by volume: 15%

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