Robert Craig 2004 Zinfandel

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
The 2004 vintage has produced an intense, robust Zinfandel with distinctive “"Amador"” qualities of dusty spice, pepper and fresh, ripe berries. Picked in small lots, the berries were fully ripe and deeply flavored, creating a delicious wine with generous mouthfeel. Aging in French oak added further complexity and layers of flavors.

Ripe, concentrated aromas of cherries and cranberry, followed by plum, mandarin orange and spice. Up-front pepper and spice flavors lead into mouth-filling cherry, plum and tangerine. It finishes with a zesty, broad-based finish of cherry-raspberry, interwoven with tobacco and cream. Forward and luscious, this classic Amador Zinfandel is packed with varietal character and rewards with a complex, rich palette of flavors.

Vineyard Notes:
The 24-acre Bowman Vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley of the Sierra Foothills is an exceptional Zinfandel grape source. The rocky, well-drained soil of decomposed granite with underlying stone stresses the vines to produce small, flavor-packed berries. The 1500-foot elevation offers ideal sun exposure, while the eastern mountains deliver cool evening breezes. The 30-year-old vines are dry-farmed and head-trained in the traditional Amador style, without wire or trellising, which further promotes the development of luscious berry flavors.

Technical Notes:

Appellation:	Amador County
Harvest dates:	September 24th
Average sugar:	26.3 Brix
TA:	0.66 g/100ml
pH:	3.44
Alcohol:	15.6%
Barrel Aging:	18 months in French oak
Bottling Date:	April 2006
Release date:	July 2006