Zinfandel Mendocino County

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.

Grapes were sourced from five separate head pruned vineyards in the Ukiah and Redwood Valleys, including a dash of Petite Sirah from Niemi for added complexity. The 2021 growing season was marked by very low precipitation, with the lowest yields and cluster weights ever recorded. The compact harvest began at Trio Marguerite on September 11th and wrapped up with Chapman on the 19th.

All vineyards were harvested by hand, the grapes de-stemmed and gently crushed into closed and open top tanks for fermentation. At dryness, free-run juice was drained directly into Taransaud barrels, 15% of which were new. Native malolactic fermentation was complete by March. The lots were blended just weeks prior to bottling August 10, 2023.

Highly concentrated, this 2021 Zinfandel is deep on black raspberry and black plum fruit with sweet soil, spice and mineral notes. The palate is balanced and supple with a layered richness and enough tannin to ensure even more sophistication in years to come.