2012 Bedrock Zinfandel Kirschenmann

The 2012 Zinfandel Kirschenmann Vineyard emerges from a site of own-rooted, head-trained vines in Lodi planted on sand owned by Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. Dark red cherry, plum, mint, spices and licorice wrap around the palate as the wine opens up in the glass. Expressive floral notes (typical of sandy soils) add a level of brightness and perfume on the finish that is hugely appealing.

The 2012 Zinfandel Kirschenmann comes from a vineyard owned by Larry Turley's viticulturist and winemaker, Tegan Passalacqua, that was planted in 1915. Because of the sandy soils, the vines were never grafted to root stocks. Every Zinfandel I tasted from this vineyard revealed a Pinot Noir-like, perfumed, elegant, cranberry, cherry and dusty loamy soil-filled character. Bedrock's delicious example possesses those characteristics along with abundant fragrance. Production was only 300 cases and the wine was aged in 20% new French oak. It achieved 14.6% natural alcohol. Consume it over the next 3-4 years. Morgan Twain Peterson, the son of Ravenswood's Joel Peterson, has hit the wine scene with a bang, producing vibrant, personality-filled, delicious wines from extremely old vines and, in some cases, virtually unknown grapes, such as Aubun, Teredalgo, Trousseau Noir, Le Noir, Mission, Trousseau Gris, Grand Noir and Abouriou, as well as Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Carignan, Alicante Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo. Many of these sites are heritage terroirs from the ancient past which, until Peterson's arrival, were largely ignored or were co-mingled into some innocuous industrial blend. Bedrock's portfolio is filled with exciting wines. The 2012s reviewed herein will all be bottled and released by Fall, 2014. Tel. (707) 343-1478