Where it all started, the fountainhead of Bedrock Wine Co., the exemplum of our farming practices, the aition of our agriculture, the vineyard we call home. It was the 132nd year of existence for these grapevines, and they put out a smaller-than-normal crop of densely fruited, thick-skinned grapes that resulted in a classic Bedrock Heritage wine. As is typical for Bedrock, this wine has the structure to match its dark red fruits, spice, and orange-tinged perfume. Composed of Zinfandel, Carignan, Mataro, and 27+ other varieties interplanted on the ranch, the wine was aged in a combination of larger format puncheons, demi-muids, and 228-litre barrels of French and Austrian oak.
Vineyard planted in 1888 with 27 different varieties, although Zinfandel, Carignan and Mourvèdre dominate. All co-fermented except for a small block of Carignan, with 18-20% new oak and some large-format oak. Sweetly fruited and quite refined with nice spicy structure and pure red berries, as well as some bite on the finish. Substantial and very fine.
Deeply structured and rather brooding at the moment but jammed with personality, offering currant and cherry flavours highlighted by cracked pepper, star anise and other dark spices. Zinfandel, Carignan and Mataro. Drink now through 2031.