Crafted from Gene’s Block at Saini Farms, this wine honors the heritage of benchland Zinfandel in Dry Creek Valley. Highlighting the long, cool 2023 growing season, these vines produced fruit of incredible aromatic brightness, juicy berry depth, and classic spice. Here’s to good neighbors, iconic terroir, and the vibrant spirit of Zinfandel.

The 2023 vintage in Dry Creek Valley was truly exceptional and stand-out. Abundant winter rainfall replenished soil moisture reserves, leading to a significantly delayed budbreak and bloom. Summer remained warm yet temperate without extreme heat events, allowing for an extended hang time and a very slow ripening process into mid-October. This unhurried pace preserved pristine natural acidities while developing deep flavor complexity, making 2023 a standout, age-worthy vintage. The fruit for this limited bottling was hand-harvested at daybreak on October 13, 2023, from a site famed for its ideal benchland sun exposure and gravelly soils. After rigorous hand-sorting, the grapes were destemmed into an open-top tank for a 5-day cold soak to gently extract aromatic complexity and deep color. Fermentation proceeded on the skins for 13 days before being drained and pressed to tank for 24 hours of settling. The wine was then transferred down to 100% neutral French oak barrels to age for 18 months before being bottled on March 13, 2025.

This 100% Zinfandel offers an extremely expressive showcase of Dry Creek Valley’s benchmark red varietal. Grown on iconic benchland soils by our longtime neighbors, this 2023 vintage pairs bright, popping fruit with vibrant acidity and classic pepper spice. It opens with an alluring, highly complex bouquet of dusty black plum, ripe black cherry, sandalwood, white pepper, cedar, and a delicate hint of dried red rose petal. On the palate, it is brambly, juicy, and energetic. Vibrant red berry notes, ripe boysenberry, and subtle dark chocolate lead into hints of fresh blue fruit on the mid-palate, complemented by classic black pepper spice. Supported by well-integrated tannins and bright, lively acidity, it carries through to a long, lingering, and beautifully balanced finish. While this 2023 Zinfandel is gorgeously bright, juicy, and expressive today, its vibrant natural acidity and firm tannin frame make it a standout candidate for the cellar. Expect it to evolve beautifully over the next 6 to 10 years.

With its bright fruit intensity, cracked pepper notes, and lively acidity, this Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel is built for flame-kissed and hearty dishes: Barbecue & Flame-Grilled Meats: Wood-fired Santa Maria tri-tip, slow-smoked baby back ribs with tangy sauce, or grilled bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin. Italian & Comfort Classics: Wood-fired pepperoni and Italian sausage pizza, rich beef Bolognese over pappardelle, or lasagna. Savory Mains: Spice-rubbed lamb chops or duck breast with a dark berry reduction. Cheeses: Aged sharp cheddar, Smoked Gouda, or Gorgonzola.