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2002 "R" Zinfandel

Nostro Vino Vineyard, Amador County

Tasting Notes PDF       Return to Wine List

The Nostro Vino Vineyard is located on Steiner Road in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley. Tom Dillian's Zinfandel Vineyard faces due north and is almost six hundred feet higher than the Massoni Ranch plantings, the home of the "Z" Zinfandel. Tom's vineyard is one of the last to ripen in Amador County. In doing so the grapes ripen slowly and the sugar climbs higher before the flavors are balanced and we harvest the grapes. This translates to a bigger more tannic wine than the "Z" Zinfandel. Aficionados of Amador Zinfandel often find the Nostro Vino edition more to their liking than the "Z."

Like the 2001 vintage the 2002 edition has a dark ruby color with mature hues. The aroma is loaded with big smoky dense ripe raspberries and plums. The bouquet offers up a dallop of vanilla and hazelnut that add complexity and richness. The flavors deliver classic Zinfandel; ripe briary raspberries on the softest texture for the Nostro Vino Zinfandel in years. Fourteen months in small barrels provides that hint of chocolate in the lengthy finish.

Varietal Composition: 100% Zinfandel
13.3% Alc.
0.74 g/100ml TA        3.39 pH

Oak Regime:
50% French Oak
50% American Oak

Released: September 1, 2004
166 Cases Produced