Navarro Vineyards - 2007 Zinfandel

2007 Zinfandel
Old Vine Cuvée
Mendocino
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Old gold

We produced eight separate lots of Zinfandel in 2007, all from ancient goblet trained vines in the Russian River watershed near Ukiah. Navarro has purchased grapes from the same growers for years and we now know the vineyards intimately. Due to the slope, soil or age of the vines, some fields are divided and harvested as separate lots. Al Tollini's vineyard has two sections, differentiated by the age of the vines. The section we named Old Block are vines planted in the 1930's and, as expected, they produced a lighter crop than his 50 year old vines. The clusters were small and the old vines had an easy time in 2007; the Old Block was our first Zinfandel vineyard to ripen. The vines at Berry vineyards were planted in the 1940's.

Burning the excess prunings at Tollini vineyards. There is no frost protection, irrigation, trellis, or wires; just ancient goblet trained vines and the redwood stakes the vines were trained up. The vines have been pruned "long" and once they start to push buds in the spring, the long spurs will be pruned "short" to 2 basal buds giving the grower a little time to outlast the frost season. The last rains were in March and these vines received no irrigation until the first rains after harvest in October.

Ed Berry thinned his Zinfandel vines three times during the 2007 season. The first was early in the season to balance the vines and the second was during veraison to remove fruit from lagging vines. When Ed realized that the ripening season was cold he noticed clusters that were red rather than black and fully ripe so before harvest he sent his crew out for a third time to remove the unripe clusters. No wonder the wine from Berry's grapes is consistently good.

Their 2007 Zinfandel harvest was divided into two pickings with the fruit further up the hill being riper and sweeter. This lot we unglamorously named BE2 although now it seems the wine deserves a more romantic name. All eight lots of Zinfandel were fermented in open top tanks, punched down by hand, and then racked to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels. This Old Vine Cuvée is a blend of 20% Old Block and 80% BE2. That means the average age of the vines that produced this wine is 72 years! What the vines lack in vigor is more than compensated by quality. It is a rich, full wine with blackberry, mint, chocolate and cassis. Gold Medal winner.

Specifications

Harvested: Oct. 09 to 11, 2007
Sugars at harvest: 27.2° Brix
Bottled: Aug. 25, 2008
Cases produced: 404
Alcohol: 15.4%
Titratable acidity: 6.5 g/L
pH: 3.82

2017 Old Vine Zinfandel, Mendocino

“Made from 60-90 year old vine Zinfandel from Ukiah and Redwood Valley. A dollop of other grapes come from a field blend block within one of the two vineyards sourced for the Navarro Zinfandel Old Vine Cuvee. Warm aromas of black cherry preserves, black pepper and allspice transitions to tastes of smushed up blackberries and very ripe raspberries + bay leaf, Thai basil and black tea. I love the generosity of fruit and sturdy frame of spice & exotic herbs. Medium acidity and smooth tannins…I think this is drinking fantastic now.” —Dan Dawson, Outer Space Far Out Wines

2016 Old Vine Zinfandel, Mendocino

90 Points. “Very fruity, very ripe and very full bodied, this wine practically oozes a jammy berrylike character from the first whiff to the lingering finish. Dried fruits like fig and raisin dominate the flavors while a rich lush texture coats the tastebuds.” —Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast

2014 Old Vine Zinfandel, Mendocino

This Beautifully refined, old-vine Zin has a core of ripe fruit and much more, including finely honed balance, exceptional integration and a long-lingering finish. Order online.John Vankat, Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine, July, 2017.

2013 Old Vine Zinfandel, Mendocino

“Old Vine Cuvée,” Mendocino ($29) – Medium to medium-dark ruby; forward, deep, intense, cedary, ripe, raspberry and blackberry fruit aroma with a hint of black pepper; full body; rich, textured, peppery, red and black fruit flavors; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Enjoyable to drink now. Highly recommended.- . California Grape VineJune, 2016.

2012 Old Vine Zinfandel, Mendocino

This supple Zin is jammed with black cherry and wild berry fruit, showing accents of roasted anise, cracked pepper and dried sage. Drink now through 2020. 490 cases made. - Tim Fish, Wine Spectator, June 30, 2015.

2000 Old Vine Zinfandel, Mendocino

Anderson Valley’s premier producer turns inland for 50-year-old vines and the heat to ripen them. They got plenty ripe this vintage, with deep, impressive berry and fruit flavors and accents like chocolate and rum. It’s a little soft, but okay. Sixteen percent alcohol is heady, but the wine handles it well, and has been fermented to full dryness. - Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast, May, 2002.