Soul Of Mendocino

Located in the rugged terrain of northern California, near the banks of the Upper Russian River and the foothills of the Mayacamas, Saracina Vineyards encompasses a 400-acre working ranch and California Certified Sustainable winery. Amidst breathtaking vistas and rolling hills, this biodiverse estate boasts a grove of 140-year-old olive trees, vegetable gardens, beehives, alpacas, goats, and a variety of native wildlife. Family lies at the core of the estate—a principle upheld since its establishment in 2001. Since 2018, the Taub family has proudly stewarded the land, forging an even stronger foundation for excellence through extensive soil analysis and pioneering a full organic conversion and water conservation system. With Saracina Vineyards, the Taub family is committed to bringing Mendocino to the forefront of quality winemaking, showcasing the unique terroir and dedication to sustainability that define their approach.

The growing season was marked by very low precipitation, with the lowest yields and cluster weights ever recorded. We began the very compact harvest with Niemi Petite Sirah on September 10, rolled into our estate Zin and Redwood Valley Zins and Carignane just days later, and wrapped up with Grenache on the 20th.

The individual lots were picked at full maturity, de-stemmed and gently transferred into fermenters with almost 100% whole berries. Musts soaked at a cool temperature for four to seven days, at which point native yeast fermentation began. Post-fermentation maceration followed for approximately one week.The wine was aged in both French and American four-year-seasoned oak (10% new) for 18 months, which included five months of native malolactic fermentation. The blend was assembled and bottled in August 2023.

Showing off a light-absorbing, inky-purple color in the glass, Soul of Mendocino is redolent with aromas of black plum and savory herb, which follow on to a dense, bramble-berry palate edged with subtle spice. The opulent fruit characters are beautifully balanced by velvety tannins and a streak of lively acidity.