Stephen Ross, Zinfandel 2017 "Dante Dusi Vineyard," Paso Robles, Central Coast, CA

This elegant expression of a Burgundy-style Zinfandel from Paso Robles offers notes of tart red fruit, chocolate, tobacco, and young silky tannins.

COUNTRY: United State of America (USA)

STATE: CA

APPELLATION (AVA): Paso Robles

REGION: California

SUBREGION: San Luis Obispo County

VINEYARD: Dante Dusi

VINTAGE: 2017

GRAPES:  Zinfandel

SOIL: Gravelly, rocky alluvial

PRACTICE: Organic, ethical farming

VINIFICATION: 100% de-stemmed, 3 day cold soak, 10 day fermentation, Burgundian oak barrel aging, limited new oak.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Medium Ruby

BODY: Medium to Full (7-8)

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Cranberry, cherry, fresh cigar, chocolate, subtle smoke

FLAVOR: Great balance between French oak and lovely acidity, silky and youthful tannins

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 14.5%

SERVICE AND SUGGESTION:
Ideal food pairings may include Turkish, Moroccan, and Arabic cuisine to bring out notes of cinnamon spice – also a great match with Asian barbecue.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
 In the summer of 1994, Stephen Ross Dooley started his label Stephen Ross at a custom crush winery in Santa Maria. By the next year he moved to Talley Vineyards to make his wines and in 1998 moved to Courtside Cellars in the Edna Valley – a large custom crush winery that Dooley designed and helped establish.
In 2001 he developed an estate vineyard planted exclusively to Pinot Noir in partnership with Talley Vineyards called Stone Corral Vineyard; it is located in the Edna Valley, a designated American Viticultural Area (AVA). Home to several well-known vineyards, the Edna Valley exemplifies the characteristic microclimate and geologic features, which are the hallmark of the south central coast; an east-west valley, which mitigates its temperate climate with cooling, ocean-borne breezes. This provides a long growing season ideal for the development of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Petite Sirah grapes.
More recently, in 2005 he invested in new winemaking equipment and moved to Santa Maria where he leased a winery building to make his wine directly under his control. In 2008 Stephen Ross moved to a new building at 178 Suburban Road , San Luis Obispo for wine production as well as a tasting room.

ABOUT THE VINEYARDS: 
Dante Dusi Vineyard was planted in 1945; the vines are head trained and dry farmed on well-drained gravelly soil. Located on the north side of Templeton, the vineyard is situated in the “Templeton Gap” which is a cooler part of Paso Robles. Although the vineyard is only 30 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the climate is quite warm as the cool breezes from the ocean do not reach the vineyard until very late in the day. However, summer nighttime temperatures typically go down to 50 ºF.

stephenrosswine.com