Easton - Zinfandel Rinaldi 2016 (750ml)
Price: $49.99
| Producer | Easton |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| Varietal | Zinfandel |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Sku | 206235 |
| Size | 750ml |
 |
Bill Easton is an old school legend. His Rinaldi Zinfandel comes from one of California’s oldest vineyards - vines date back to the 1860’s! At 2,600 feet, the vineyard’s altitude and soils yield concentrated yet fresh fruit, with natural acidity that keeps the wine lifted. Easton’s Rhône-influenced winemaking leans traditional: open-top fermentations, restrained use of oak, and a focus on structure over sugar. The 2016 is their current release as he likes to release only when ready (a rarity in Cali). It is all dark berries, cracked pepper, and earthy spice, with firm tannins and no trace of overripeness. A killer match for short ribs or anything charred and smoky. The real deal Cali Zinfandel.
Easton Description
These old vines barely provide a crop each year. The vineyard is about as old as they come in California with vines dating to the original planting in 1865. When you gaze on the vineyard on a cold Spring day after the vines have been pruned, the thousands of stout, thickly trunked vines are not unlike a amorphous Henry Moore sculpture, arms raised, pleading with the heavens for enough water to grow for another year. This vineyard is farmed with simplicity: pruning, plowing, and finally picking at the perfect time determined by our winemaker. Every year the wines are different and a revelation. We do not blend this wine with other Zinfandels in our cellar to make a consistent product. EASTON Fiddletown Zinfandel is always 100% Zinfandel from the Rinaldi Vineyard. We approach making the wine from this vineyard in much the same way a good winemaker would approach a Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy. We want to reveal what the fruit has to offer each year in all of its’ purity; not obscure it. This Zinfandel has thick brambly blackberry fruit with pepper, anise, clove, and other exotic spices. Yields are always incredibly low at about 2 tons per acre. Harvest was on October 7th and October 13th. Fat and mouth-filling with great persistence on the palate. Like all our EASTON Zinfandels, this wine was aged in exclusively French oak.
