Folie à Deux Zinfandel 2016
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Wine Specs
Vintage
2016
Varietal
Zinfandel
Appellation
Dry Creek Valley
Harvest Date
September 2016
Acid
0.56 g/100ml
pH
3.69
Alcohol %
15.5
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
The Folie à Deux 2016 Zinfandel opens with expressive black cherry, mocha and
strawberry jam aromas framed by hints of white pepper and clove. Robust flavors with
notes of dark chocolate, blackberry, strawberry, blueberry compote, fennel and baking
spice lead to a full-bodied, structured mouthfeel. Bright acidity and silky tannins on the
palate accentuate the juicy fruits. For an excellent pairing, serve this wine with braised
pork topped with Sunday Gravy, smoked brisquet or maple-glazed carrots.
Vineyard Notes
Located northwest of the town of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, the Dry Creek
Valley is one of California’s smallest appellations, measuring just 16 miles long
and two miles wide. The area was discovered in the 1870’s by Italian immigrants,
who were reminded of the hills in their native Tuscany and Piedmont. They planted
Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignan grapes on the Dry Creek Valley’s benchlands to
emulate the hearty red wines to which they were accustomed, often inter-planting the
varieties to create “field-blended” wines.
Production Notes
The Dry Creek Valley’s warm summer days—tempered by morning fog from the
Pacific Ocean—and its well-drained, stony soils translate to highly concentrated
and complex fruit. The 2016 season brought a relatively wet, mild spring and early
summer. As a result, both Zinfandel and Petite Sirah grapes ripened fairly slow,
creating wines with an excellent balance of acidity and tannins.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes for this Zinfandel underwent a three-day cold soak, and a starter yeast
was used to initiate fermentation at 75°F. During a maceration period of 10 to
12 days, the juice was pumped over the skins daily to maximize the extraction of
the variety’s rich flavor and tannins. Délestage—an oxygenation technique—was
employed during active fermentation to soften the wine and showcase its fruit
character. This Zinfandel was aged in a combination of French and American oak
barrels, 29% of which was new.
Other Notes
Varietal Composition: 93% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah
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