Harvest Moon Estate Zinfandel Late Harvest 2003  375ml Not currently available   Your Shopping Cart: Join one of the Harvest Moon Wine Clubs and save up to 30% on wines!

Vintage & Varietal

2003 Russian River Valley Late Harvest Estate Zin
47 cases produced of 375 ml splits.
Bottled on January 12th 2004.
Brix at Harvest: 31.5 and 15.4 % alcohol
Residual Sugar: 11%,

Grower & Winemaker's Notes

We had selected a very specific vineyard row to produce this very small production of super intense exotic dessert wine. After crush, we had to coax the yeast to begin fermentation as the brix level (sugar) was so high, it nearly dehydrated the yeast. Once underway, I tasted the fermenting must twice daily waiting for just the right balance of alcohol, flavor components and residual sugar. When I felt the wine was in balance, I arrested the fermentation via pressing off, dropping the wine temperature to 30 degrees and racking immediately off its lees. Over the next 2 months, I allowed the wine to settle out ensuring an appropriate tannin level. I was seeking a wine style that is easy to drink, yet can be taken seriously in any social setting. On January 12th of this year the wine was sterile filtered and bottled by my one assistant and me. There was nothing added to this wine. I feel extremely fortunate that I had complete control over the family vineyard, as I am convinced this is the only way to make stuff like this.

Tasting Notes

This wine was made from a particularly sunny part of the Estate block. Left for weeks longer on the vine with only sips of water, this wine represents the epitome of our Home Ranch Zinfandel… a basket of freshly picked raspberries. Try with dark chocolate or brownies right out of the oven. This wine also pairs well with an aged gouda.