Jeff Cohn Cellars, Zinfandel 2016, Rinaldi Vineyard, Amador County, Sierra Nevada, CA

This elegant 100% Zinfandel is aromatic and concentrated, balancing ripe blackberry with earthiness, with a backdrop of smoky sage and a long finish. 

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: CA

APPELLATION (AVA): Fiddletown

REGION: Sierra Nevada

SUBREGION: Amador County

VINEYARD: Rinaldi Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2016

GRAPES: Zinfandel

SOIL: Volcanic rock and red soils

PRACTICE: Organic, dry-farmed

VINIFICATION:  20% whole cluster, 80% whole berry. Cold soaked for 3 days, fermented for 1.5 weeks with up to 5 punchdowns a day, no pump overs. Drained directly to French barrels (combination of 500L and 300L French). Aged 16 months. Unfiltered.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Deep purple-ruby

BODY: Medium to full

TASTE: Dry

TANNINS: Light to moderate, polished

PRIMARY AROMAS: Raspberry, ripe blackberry, dried cherry, sage, 

FLAVOR: Dried cherry, earthy, savory 

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 15.4%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve with a Moroccan lamb stew.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Jeff Cohn

Jeff Cohn was born in Maryland and got his associate degree in Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University and a bachelors in Hospitality Management at Florida International University. He worked in hospitality before discovering wine. After interning at Boordy Vineyards in Maryland, he went to California where he got a MS is Agricultural Chemistry at Fresno State, where he specialized in Enology. He worked at Rosenblum Cellars for 10 years, working his way up to VP of Winemaking and Production, before starting Jeff Cohn Cellars in 1996. 

Jeff maintains a Rhône-centric philosophy to winemaking, and believes that good wine starts in the vineyard. He works with passionate growers with organic and sustainable practices in order to produce the best fruit. 

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: Rinaldi Vineyard

“Originally established in 1865, this heritage vineyard is one of the oldest Zinfandel growing regions in California. Rinaldi Vineyard sits at 2000 ft. elevation in the Sierra Foothills of Amador County. My rows are a tad lower, at 1,600 - 1,800 ft of decomposed volcanic rock and red soils.

“This heritage vineyard showcases classic terroir. Today, there may be one acre of these ancient vines still producing fruit. The remaining vines in the original 38-acre block are more than 100 years old. The vineyard also has various blocks with different ages planted since the 1950s.

“The South-facing vineyard was revitalized in 2000 with a replanting done with selections from existing vines. The Zinfandel is head-trained; largely dry-farmed, and these vine have deep roots. They cast a spell on me.  It is one of the coolest sites in Amador, producing wines with white and black pepper notes.” (jeffcohncellars.com)

Note: Rinaldi Vineyard used to be called Eschen.

ABOUT THE LABEL: The label denotes an Iris, the name of Jeff Cohn’s mother, who gave him the funds to start his own label, along with love and encouragement.