Martha Stoumen Wines "Post Flirtation" Red Blend 2020

Vineyard notes Zinfandel: Del Barba Vineyard, Contra Costa County; planted in 1960; grown without pesticides and herbicides; dry farmed.

Carignan: Ricetti Vineyard, Mendocino County; planted in 1948; certified organic; dry farmed.

Tasting notes Wild fruit notes; juicy aromatics from the zinfandel with just enough structure from the carignan; versatile wine that is abundantly playful, but serious in all the right ways.

Martha’s notes: This wine is so joyous, and to me, distinctly Californian. I never knew how much I loved Zinfandel until I started working as Chris Brockway’s (Broc Cellars) Assistant Winemaker. When picked before the grape berries begin to shrivel, you get these amazing hibiscus, rhubarb, pomegranate, and baking spices from Zin. Like an avocado, the window is small between unripe and overripe for Zin, and I watch this vineyard closely. Carignan, Zin’s less celebrated companion, provides a savory component reminiscent of driving through California chaparral, and, like Ricetti’s, can be incredibly complex with 70 years of vine age. I’m not re-inventing the wheel with this classic old vine Zin/Carignan blend, just lightening things up a bit.