Haarmeyer Calveras Zinfandel 2021

Description

Rorick Heritage vineyard is one of the most fascinating vineyards for me. It was
originally surveyed during the gold rush and copies of that survey are stored on the
property today. They did not find any gold but they did find limestone out-croppings
jutting up from the valley floor, surrounded by decomposed schist, which constitutes the
hillsides on each side of the valley. The vineyard was first planted to Cabernet and
Chardonnay. Although we may have grown a bit tired of the Cab/Chard domination in
California, it is worth noting that these blocks were own-rooted and the chardonnay is of
Wente origins. About twenty years ago, the Stevenot folks planted the surrounding
hillsides with Zinfandel, Syrah, Viognier and other sun loving Rhone varieties. In 2012
Matthew Rorick and his family purchased the vineyard; all 70 planted acres of it, and
began rehabilitating it. There are two blocks of Zinfandel. We have worked with both
and have decided that lower block suits us best because of the higher acidity.

The Cellar:
This is one of our wines we refer to as partial-carbonic since we do not destem the
clusters. We simply pour them into open top one ton fermenters, put the lid on and let
nature take its course. Until the fermentation really gets going, we work the cap with our
hands, turning over the fruit and keeping the top wet. Once it’s fermenting more
vigorously we foot tread the cap. Then we press at about 0 Brix to a neutral 500L oval
puncheons. The wine remains sur lie until we bottle without fining or filtration in March.