Vintage Update
What a day we had yesterday! Pressed off the Rockpile Syrah, from all the different blocks and I will say, without a doubt, we have a winner on our hands. At this point the Haley’s’ blend is very layered and the anisette is very prominent in aromas and flavors. The So Serine is richer and more seductive. This may be due to the fact that the vines are more mature and starting to come into their own. The same could be said of the Buffalo Hill, which is showing forceful grip, but also a silky side (leather and lace). Time in the barrel should prove to be the perfect match.
We also have put the Sweetwater Springs Zinfandel back into the cement Hippo that we fermented in. This should prove to be a classic match. In my mind the Sweetwater zinfandel reminds me a touch of Grenache from the south of France with a big hit of raspberry! These of course are my thoughts…
Oct 28th is almost here! This is my daughter Isabel’s 10th birthday and the date Rhodes Zinfandel came in on the year of her birth in 1999! To celebrate, the family is going to Estate Restaurant, my good friend Sondra Bernstein’s second restaurant in Sonoma, and Isabel’s favorite place to dine. We will be opening a bottle of 1999 Cuvée Isabel Rhodes Vineyard Zinfandel, a 2007 Isabel Stagecoach Syrah and maybe something else.
So as you can see things are starting to mellow out a touch and I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Half-full,
Jeff
