Dashe Cellars 2003 Zinfandel - Todd Brothers Ranch

$28.00 -- Alexander Valley

Purchase Dashe Cellars 2003 Zinfandel - Todd Brothers Ranch

Vineyard Notes:
On an extremely steep slope of red, rocky volcanic earth, much of the Todd Brothers Ranch vineyard is made up of row after row of thick, gnarly, old-vine zinfandel. From Dashe's first sight of these vines (and the bright red soil in which the vines are planted) they knew that this vineyard would create a wine unlike any other.

The Todd Brothers vineyard, located in Geyserville in the northern most stretch of Alexander Valley, makes some of the most structured, complex, layered zinfandels. The 2003 is no exception; it is a beautiful, structured, and complex zinfandel, with an intensity of color and flavor that makes it almost more like a cabernet sauvignon than a typical zinfandel. This is definitely a wine that will last for many years.

Winemaker Notes:
The vintage of 2003 was very moderate and balanced in temperatures, with cool evenings and warm days that slowly ripened the grapes. As was typical, we harvested the Todd Brothers Ranch grapes before any others, in the first week of September, trucking the grapes to the winery in 1/2 ton picking bins, and then sorting the grapes on a conveyor belt on the way to the crusher. We fermented the grapes using our traditional method of "submerged-cap" fermentation, using our custom-made stainless-steel grids to hold the grape skins below the surface of the fermenting juice. This method maximizes flavor, color, and complexity from the grapes without letting the wines get too tannic.

Tasting Notes:

Color:	Purple Black
Aroma:	Lavender, blackberry jam, chocolate, cassis, coffee, licorice
Taste:	Dark blackberry fruit, cassis, licorice, chocolate, thick and velvety texture

Technical Notes:

Varietals:	98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Syrah
Appellation:	Alexander Valley Sonoma County
Alcohol:	14.8% by vol.
Time in oak:	14 months
Oak:	100% French; 20% new
Production:	311 cases, 750mL
Release date:	February 1, 2006

Return to Dashe Cellars Wine List

Purchase Dashe Cellars 2003 Zinfandel - Todd Brothers Ranch

Other products in the winery Dashe Cellars:

Dashe Cellars 2003 Zinfandel -- Dry Creek Valley

Dashe Cellars 2005 Late Harvest Zinfandel -- Dry Creek Valley

Dashe Cellars 2002 Merlot - Iron Oak Ranch -- Potter Valley, Mendocino

Dashe Cellars 2003 Zinfandel - Big River Ranch -- Alexander Valley

Dashe Cellars 2003 Old Vines Zinfandel - Louvau Vineyard -- Dry Creek Valley

Dashe Cellars 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon -- Alexander Valley