The Grapes:
100% Zinfandel (2018 vintage)
It makes perfect sense that some of California’s most distinctive Zinfandels come from Redwood Valley in southern Mendocino County.
This is one of the state’s most distinctive viticultural enclaves, with a combination of climate and soils – particularly its deposits of the rare, rust-colored Redvine soil – that rightly may be called unique.

The Appellation:
Mendocino, California
Our Zinfandel comes from 4 different old vine Zinfandel vineyards scattered throughout the benchlands and hillsides of Mendocino County.
Old vine vineyards such as Tournour, Ford and Pacini grace this fine wine. Many of these vineyards are still farmed by 3rd and 4th generation Italian-Americans.

The Wine: 
This vintage displays a rich dark purple garnet color and deep aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, plum, spicy sandalwood with hints of toasty oak. Uplifting flavors of plum, black cherry cola and a subtle of earthiness combine to give this full-bodied Zinfandel a generous mouth-feel. Rich full tannins and balanced acidity lead into a long, lingering finish.

The Winemaking:
After a long, slow fermentation, the wine was aged for 48 months in 10% new French Burgundy, American, and Eastern European oak, softening the tannins and adding length and depth to the blackberry-jam aromas and ripe, earthy, spicy flavors with nuances of tar and toasty French oak. Fermentation: 3 days of cold soak, pumped over and punched down
twice a day for an average of 14 days in stainless open top fermentors. Aging: 48 months in French, American, and Eastern European Burgundy barrels (10% new French)

Alcohol: 15.0%
Total Acidity: 7.0 g/L
pH: 3.48
Residual Sugar: 0.1% (dry)

Pairs With:
Enjoy with garlic and rosemary seasoned lamb chops, Italian sausage or spicy tomato pasta dishes.

The Winemaker:
E-Corp has worked with Greg Graziano for nearly 2 decades, and Greg is a winemaker you never forget. From his endless supply of Hawaiian shirts to his contagious passion for wine, excessive neutral-oak ageing, and doing things the right way even if its the hard way, Greg has always been a favorite of ours. When we want to show someone a well-made wine, we show any wine that says “Graziano” on it.

The Graziano Family has a long line of winemakers and grape growers dating back to the early 1900’s.  Like his family before him, Greg Graziano, now carries on the family winemaking tradition that his grandfather set the foundation for and that his father Joseph later handed down to Gregory. To this day he is still carrying on the family tradition…as is his oldest daughter, Alexandra Graziano, a UC Davis graduate of Viticulture and Enology. She is currently involved in all aspects of winemaking and is the 4th generation, from Piedmonte of Italy to Mendocino County.

◉ The Graziano Family of Wines Website
◉ Other Wines from this producer at E-Corp