The ClandestZin 2006 Russian River Valley Zinfandel is mid red in color with light purple hues. It shows a wonderful up front oak nose and character, a soft, smoky aroma and intimates hints of blueberries and briar. The warm berry fruit overtones show lifted perfume of plums and mulberry. The palate is rich, viscous, and luscious with a lovely supple entry, beautiful fresh violet and blackberry mid palate, and a long and fruit driven finish supported by nicely balanced oak tannin. This Zinfandel has backbone, but is subtle and the fruit is powerful, yet balanced.

Sourced from vines nearly a century old on the Tom Feeney Ranch in the Russian River Valley. The wine is close to 100% Zinfandel but likely has a small amount of Feeney's renown 'field blend" of Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah and other grapes. ClandestZin was harvested on October 29th, 2006 extremely late in the season because of the late ripening conditions of the 2006 harvest. The grapes were 100% destemmed with a 75% crush, 25% whole berry mix and cold soaked for five days before fermentation began. The wine was on the skins for 21 days prior to pressing them until they screamed for mercy (to get major extraction and tannins — no gentle pressing or Angel's feet treading on our grapes to be gentle with them — we wanted every iota of flavor) into a 50% new American oak barrel with a slightly toasted head. The wine continued to ferment in the barrel for an additional few months while the malolactic fermentation (MLF) completed and was then racked into a 25% aged American oak barrel for 10 additional months. After the desired flavors were achieved, the wine was then racked into a neutral oak barrel for another two months for additional aging for a total of 16 months in the barrel. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered on April 9th, 2008.

This wine is forward and quite drinkable now. The nose will lift and with bottle ageing the oak tannin will add balance and subtlety over a year - however, we dare you to try to keep a case for a year! This wine won't stay in your cellar because the temptation to "pull another bottle" will be too great. This is a lovely, oh so drinkable, delicious wine that is quintessential California Zinfandel.