2018 Palachchak Zinfandel

ABOUT

Palachchak is the Coast Miwok word for the California Acorn Woodpecker. The bird is named for its ability to drill holes with its beak into trees or softwood (houses or posts) and place the acorn into the hole for food later in winter and spring.

As for the wine, we do a similar approach by carefully identifying the best lots of zinfandel and syrah after their initial aging. We blend those lots and return the wine back to all neutral French oak barrels for additional aging. The extended aging (24 mos.) allows for the full integration of the blend as well as further softening of the grape and oak tannins. Once the wine is bottled, it ages for an additional 2-3 years before it's ready for release–upwards of 7 years of aging! This results in a full-bodied wine that reigns with explosive fruit and structure but with a smooth, velvety finish. Expect this wine to age gracefully well past 12 years after its vintage date.

VINTAGE

The 2018 vintage experienced hot summer temps again but managed to end up a normal harvest window in mid September. Managing brix levels was a challenge, but we maintained excellent fruit characteristics without excessive alcohol levels. This marks the first year we switched our main zinfandel source from Picnic Hill to the neighboring Quartz plot (about 14 feet away). We maintained the blend of the Alitia Zinfandel plot along with a kiss of Syrah. Palachchak fans will pickup the same characteristic taste with a more elegant feel.

VINEYARDS

70% Quartz Vineyard Zinfandel, 25% Alitia Vineyard Zinfandel, 5% Winddance Farms Syrah

Story Winery Alitia Vineyard (Zinfandel) - planted c.1984.  Dry-farmed, head-pruned, organic. Planted on 'Sierra soil' (primarily, deep decomposed granite, forming sandy loam, well drained), east-west orientation.

Story Vineyards Quartz Vineyard (Zinfandel) - planted c.1990. Dry-farmed, head-pruned, on original Freedom rootstock. Planted on 'Sierra soil' (primarily, deep decomposed granite, forming sandy loam, well drained), east-west orientation.

Winddance Farms Vineyard (Syrah) - planted c. 2002. Trellised VSP (Vertical Shoot Position), irrigated. Planted on Aiken soil, (primarily, well drained volcanic soil with deeper clay loam base), north-south orientation.

TASTE

Aromas of raspberries, blackberries, nutmeg, cinnamon, and hints of black pepper. Flavors of brambleberry, currants, and cola explode followed by elegant tannins, subtle oak, and a long lingering finish.