Late Harvest Zinfandel Dessert Wine 2019
Always a crowd favorite when shared at the end of a hearty meal, the 2019 Late Harvest Zin follows our tradition of making a serious late picked varietal wine. This 2019 red is delightfully showy with aromas of raspberry jam, sweet alcohols, cotton candy and Bing cherry. The palate is utterly decadent with black pepper, chewy red preserves, grape jelly, and a touch of sour cherry. Although the acid and tannin balance appear in this wine, they are not aggressive and will prove very useful in keeping the pulse of this Zinfandel going deep into ageing. IN THE VINEYARD The entire 20 year old Zinfandel block exists in two rows on our Oakville Estate vineyard, at a mere ¼ acre. Using traditional techniques of dry farming and head and trellis training, the vines were able to achieve incredible depth and complexity. At harvest the fruit looks and feels like it has given absolutely everything it has to offer the vintage. The mature fruit was hand harvested into half-ton bins. We wait to pick until we can identify the grapes appearing more like golf balls than perfectly round berries. Combined yields were small and could barely be squeezed out to yield 2 barrels. IN THE CELLAR After careful cluster sorting, the sweet but tired black bunches were destemmed into open top, insulated bins where fermentation took place for nearly 15 days. Gentle “punch downs” by hand were employed to gently homogenize the fermentation two times daily. At the proper time during fermentation, the fruit was lightly pressed as not to supply too much tannin and astringency, and then put direct to cask. The wine was matured on gross yeast lees settlings for 10 months in three 100% new Virginia Oak by Nadalie Cooperage. Neither the removal of tannin via fining nor any sulfites were employed during the barrel ageing of this wine. Sulfites were only added prior to the bottling. Cellared correctly, the 2018 L.H.Z. should survive until 2030 or longer.
Alc. %
15.86%| Cases Produced | 60 |
|---|---|
| Closure | Natural |
| Bottle Size | Half |
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Venge Vineyards
The Venge family has farmed vitis vinifera varieties in Napa Valley for nearly half a century. It is a journey that began when Knud Venge emigrated from Denmark to the United States in the early 1900’s. Knud’s son, Per Venge, found his passion in the wine and spirits industry and started Vencom Imports, focusing on the importation of Western European fine wines and spirits. It was Per’s son, Nils Venge, who left the family business in the 1960’s with a vision to study viticulture at UC Davis and establish the family name as an icon in the winegrowing community.
The family’s viticultural roots flourished in 1976 with the purchase of a 17-acre vineyard in the Oakville District that was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This fortunate development cast the family among the winemaking pioneers of Napa Valley.
Nils’ and Dianna Venge’s son, Kirk Venge, gravitated to winemaking at an early age. He proved to be as talented a winemaker as his father, making wines in his own style, with a vision to build on the family legacy. In 2008, Kirk achieved his lifelong dream and acquired full ownership of Venge Vineyards. Today, Kirk continues the Napa Valley heritage, focusing on select vineyard sites that produce fruit worthy of bearing the Venge family name.
In the Vineyards
Our farming experience spans nearly a half-century in the Napa Valley. We seek vineyard locations that possess the requirements for producing fruit that will bear the Venge family name: a temperate climate of warm days and cool nights, porous alluvial and hillside soils with balanced nutrient deposits, and ample degree days to promote prolonged hang time for optimal maturation.
Winemaking Philosophy
Our experience spans four decades in winemaking. Both traditional and progressive wine production techniques are embraced, although we remain focused on our core belief: only fruit grown from select vineyards that has been handled gently and naturally produces wine worthy of bottling under the Venge family name.
Tasting Room and Visitor Experience
Nestled into the eastern foothills of the Palisades Mountain range, and surrounded by our 12-acre estate vineyard, you’ll enjoy our current Venge releases in a privately hosted tasting.
Advance Reservations Are Required.
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Download the Wine Routes app to bring your routes, wineries, and interactive tastings wherever your journey takes you!
Headed to the vineyards?
Tour wine country like a pro
Download the Wine Routes app to bring your routes, wineries, and interactive tastings wherever your journey takes you!