Frogs Leap Zinfandel

A brief history: yes we have noticed that the monster zins of the ’70s are still in fashion. And yes just like fashion they command monster prices based on their big alcohol big flavors and big bottles. Maybe it’s that we found our early inspiration for zinfandel from a different source – instead of reinventing zinfandel we looked to the past and the incredible zins of the ’40s and ’50s. Those wines taught us the lessons that the old-timers knew: that field blends of petite sirah carignane and sometimes napa gamay all picked at ripeness (not as raisins) added color aromatics and earthy complexity. In other words the help of other varietals was needed to reveal the zinfandel grape’s true flavors. These principles form the foundation for our wine today. About the wine: it is tempting to think of 2015 as a continuation of the drought years so highly reported in california. In fact in napa there was ample rainfall to support full ripening with normal production. The