We grow our Zinfandel on our Pleasant Valley ranch, which is situated east of Paso Robles in the Estrella Hills. This is by far our oldest vineyard; situated on a southwest-facing hillside of Nacimiento-Los Osos complex chalky clay loam soil with characteristic twisted and gnarled Zinfandel vines. Varietal expression in Zinfandel is usually characterized by more of the jammy fruit spectrum of berry flavors and aromas, and in this vintage we decided to wait for this to happen. Thinning in the vineyard--both at veraision and prior to harvest—allowed us to select the best maturing bunches to give optimal flavor balance.

Origin: Pleasant Valley Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA
Composition: 76.5% Zinfandel, 23.5% Syrah
Brix at Harvest: 25.4° average
Total Acidity: 0.64 g/100 ml
pH at Bottling: 3.73
Alcohol: 14.6% by volume
Residual Sugar: 0.23 g/100 ml
Vinification: Stainless steel fermented at 85-90°F
Malolactic fermentation in barrels
Maturation: 9 months in new and second- fill French oak barrels

Winemaker's Comments

The 2006 J. Lohr Old Vines Zinfandel is a moderately deep purple-red color with youthful hues. The aroma is characterized by Zinfandel’s spicy and jammy red fruits. The blackberry and raspberry are complemented with licorice and black tea spice. The palate has a soft, plump texture with mid-palate weight and fruitiness making this a food-friendly wine, but is particularly suited to casual fare such as red-sauced pasta dishes or pizza.

Jeff Meier, winemaker

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