The Todd Brothers Ranch has been a flagship Zinfandel at Dashe Cellars since 1998 when we first began making wines from these vines. It’s one of our favorite vineyards in all of Sonoma County: the soil is a brilliant bright red color due to volcanic iron deposits, and the rocky slope in Geyserville makes the vines struggle to produce grapes. The result is unusually small, intensely concentrated grapes that produce dark purple, luscious wines. These head-trained vines consistently produce grapes with almost cabernet-like intensity and structure, yet still possessing the characteristic balance and sensuous texture of a Zinfandel.

As always, the Todd Brothers Vineyard is one of our earliest ripening and was picked the first week of September. The grapes were trucked to the winery in 1000 lb. picking bins and hand-sorted before the crusher. The grapes were fermented using the yeasts on the surface of the grapes. This native yeast method maximizes flavor, color, and complexity from the grapes. At dryness, the wine was gently pressed in a membrane press and pumped to 120- and 60-gallon French oak barrels. During the blending, we added a small amount of Petite Sirah from the Todd Brothers Ranch for body, spice, and depth of flavor.

The color is purple with reddish hues. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, plum, chocolate, coffee, graphite, pepper, with subtle floral notes of violets follow. One of the most structured and balanced Todd Vineyard wines we’ve ever made. A big wine with a sensuous texture. Beautiful entry of cassis and blackberry, luscious texture and a firm acid structure, earth and minerals, garrigue (forest floor), and silky tannins. Long, sweet, fruit finish of black currant, peppery spice, chocolate, and blackberry fruit.