Our estate Zinfandel block is named Helen’s Ridge Vineyard after our grandmother. The vineyard is a small 1-acre block of Primitivo clone #3 ideally suited for our coastal climate on 101-14 rootstock. The vineyard straddles Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley appellations, with VSP trellising on sandy loam soil, and was planted in 2005. The AVA line actually runs through the west side of the vineyards, just east of the town of Occidental.

Estate Zinfandels from Helen’s Ridge express opulent raspberry and plum aromas mixed with white pepper and cedar. Red raspberry flavors blend with blueberry and baking spices, followed by a rich finish, creating an elegant, balanced Zinfandel with natural acidity and soft tannins. The cooler growing region here at the edge of the Russian River Valley AVA produces a fruit-forward, mouthcoating style of Zinfandel with amazing flavor intensity and versatility making it a great candidate to pair with a variety of dishes.

The fruit was harvested and crushed into open-top fermenters to accentuate the fruit flavors and peppery aromas. The grapes were fermented for 14 days. The wine was aged in 25% new French oak for 12 months.