82% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 4% Barbera Wine Spectator awards UNTI 2018 Zinfandel high praise...
2018
Zinfandel
82% Zinfandel
14% Petite Sirah
4% Barbera
11 MO. 30% New French Oak
1,175 Cases
In 1997, when we started making Zinfandel, we struggled to make a wine that was as compelling as our favorite Dry Creek Zins. This was our first lesson in how a vineyard impacts Zinfandel. A lesson we continually learn with almost every variety we make. 21 vintages later we can finally say, “We are there, dude.”
To be sure, 2018 was an excellent vintage across the varietal board for us — thanks to a growing season that allowed slow and even ripening. This is particularly true for our Primitivo-clone Zin vineyard. But vintage alone cannot explain why I like this wine so much. The ’18 Zin is a culmination of twenty years of trying to make a more refined wine.
As I have stated — ad nauseum — we manage crop levels now better than ever. Our vines are also more mature — the Zin vineyard is now 24 years old. Dry Creek’s climate, combined with older vines, brings an extra dimension of fruit to our Primitivo that is seldom, if ever, seen from Italian producers.
Perhaps the most important factor is the Petite Sirah in our Zin blend. In 2011, we grafted five rows of our Benchland Syrah over to PS, and that change in our vineyard site has taken our Zin to another level. Now, our Petite Sirah ripens on about the same schedule as our Zinfandel, giving Jason the opportunity to co-ferment the two grapes. The Benchland site also promotes a more intensely fruity Petite Sirah. Anytime you can get Petite to give you color, tannin structure, AND fruit, you are living right.
I should also point out that 2018 was Jason’s third vintage here at Unti. Jason uses a few more sophisticated French barrels for aging our Zinfandel than we did previously. Good French oak plays into a more complex and aromatic Zin, with seamless tannins. This distinguishes Unti from several iconic Zinfandel producers who still proudly wave the American Oak flag. We have always eschewed aging Zinfandel in American oak, feeling it is a bit too crude and intrusive.
So, there you have it. Our ’18 Zinfandel is dark, juicy, spicy, and rich with amazing balance. Both George, Jason, and I have already enjoyed several bottles of this very friendly wine (see videos and George’s take on our website). It took us some time, but I’m back to being a Zin fan. Time to start sporting a custom bejeweled Unti Zin shirt with matching jeans… — MJU
$32 / btl
$25.60 in any case purchase
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In case you missed it...
Grab our '18 Benchland Syrah and '18 Cuvée Foudre before it's too late!
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2018
Benchland Syrah
100% Syrah
17 MO. 35% New French Oak
275 Cases
In Texas, they say “Dance with the one who brung you.” Well, we’ve been dancing with Syrah from this vineyard since 1995…and we’re still not tired of it.
It’s funny how certain personalities, performers, artists, writers resonate with people. One of our favorite comedians, Norm MacDonald, recently passed away. Norm’s humor was not for everyone. However, if you were a fan, you wholeheartedly agreed with David Letterman’s take - “There are better comedians, but nobody was funnier than Norm.”
In today’s sophisticated California wine market, it seems Syrah grown in cool climate regions (where Pinot Noir is located) is garnering most of the press. This makes sense, since the Northern Rhône, where the world’s finest Syrah is grown, is a cool climate compared to most of California.
However, just as there are some iconic Syrah vineyards in the Southern Rhône, there are compelling, distinctive Syrah vines in warmer climes. At the risk of sounding too proud, our Benchland Syrah is one such vineyard.
Planted in 1991, our Benchland block is one of, if not THE oldest Syrah vineyard in Sonoma County. Like many of us, the Benchland vines might be slowing down, but they are producing higher quality. The crop level is more in balance with its root development, resulting in more consistent high-quality fruit. Combined with an even ripening vintage like 2018, you have one of the best wines from this vineyard. Intense color and fruit, with a distinct savory character you’ve come to love from this wine. This 2018 has the depth and structure found in our 2016, 2012 and 2007, rewarding those who aged them.
$55 / btl
$44 in any case purchase
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2018
Cuvée Foudre
51% Grenache
29% Syrah
20% Mourvedre
14 MO. French Oak Foudre
258 Cases
The Southern Rhône side of our winery’s personality really shined in 2018, thanks to a solid vineyard strategy combined with a great growing season. If this vintage is any indication, we are proving Dry Creek Valley to be an excellent AVA for Rhône varietal blends.
Over the past ten years, wine producers in San Luis Obispo County have garnered far more attention for making Grenache-based wines. This makes sense, since most of the region’s vineyards have been planted within the past 20 years, and you didn’t have high-profile Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir grown there. Rhône varieties have taken on more prominence there due to the influence of Tablas Creek, the partnership between Chateau Beaucastel in Châteuaneuf-du-Pape and Robert Haas.
San Luis Obispo County's growing conditions are good for Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah, and while the industry has focused on cultivating the varieties there, it doesn’t mean Sonoma County is any less worthy. In fact, our nighttime temperatures tend to be slightly cooler, which I believe brings an element of freshness to our Rhône blends.
For the past 7 years, our vineyard crew has executed a crop-thinning program designed to improve the quality and consistency of our wines. Anyone who makes Grenache-based red wines will tell you how important it is to moderate crop levels. It is the difference between CDP and CDR.
No matter how we are in the vineyard, there is always this reliance upon nature. Some years (see 2020) we spend all harvest trying to overcome inhospitable growing conditions. 2018 will be considered one of THE great vintages of the 21st century.
2018 marks the fourth consecutive vintage we have been able to make Cuvée Foudre, our most highly rated wine. If you are lucky enough to have the previous three vintages, a mini-vertical would impress even your most fanatical Southern Rhône geek friends.
We have settled on the same three vineyard blocks that can make a full-bodied Rhône blend — Grenache Alban, Original Mourvedre, and clone 383 Syrah. You could call these vineyard blocks our CDP players because they deliver more expressive and structured wine.
2018, like 2012, featured a cool August and early September, extending fruit hang time which resulted in more intense flavors with tannin/acid balance. Our Mourvedre yield was low in 2018 resulting in only being 20% of the blend. Fortunately, the Grenache stepped up with a strong year, so we bumped up its percentage to 51%.
Like my favorite Châteauneufs, our Cuvée Foudre has a distinct and consistent personality, while reflecting the subtle characteristics of the vintage. In 2018, that means the wine is dark with more intense fruit and juicy acidity — all in a chewier (nice use of vocab, Mick) Southern Rhône blend.
The ’18 CF is definitely showing well already, but it will certainly improve over the next 5 to 8 years. A statement wine, for sure that you’ll want to have in your cellar…or wine fridge.
$70 / btl
$56 in any case purchase
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