Dashe Cellars 2003 Old Vines Zinfandel - Louvau Vineyard

Vineyard Notes:
These wonderful 68-year-old vines were discovered by John Louvau on his newly-bought property in 1989, hidden beneath a field of weeds and blackberry vines that had grown over the old grapevines. Ecstatic over his discovery, John nursed the vines back to health and now they produce some of the best grapes on the entire property. These are classic old vine zinfandel: head-trained, dry-farmed, with thick gnarled trunks popping out of the rocky old riverbed. They produce only about two tons of complex, intense grapes per acre. We love these old vines, because they make a classic Dry Creek Valley old-vine zinfandel, with the black raspberry and earthy spice that make Dry Creek zinfandels so popular and sought-after.

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, with about 20% of the wine aged in new French oak. Every three months we racked the wine out of barrel to clarify the wine and aid in its development. As the wine aged, it deepened in color and developed a complexity and firm structure that we believe will help the wine improve with up to eight years of bottle age.

Technical Notes:

Varietals:	100% Zinfandel
Appellation:	Dry Creek Valley
Alcohol:	14.9 % by vol.
Time in oak:	14 months
Oak:	French; 20% new
Production:	230 cases, 750mL
Release date:	September 1, 2005