Buehler Zinfandel 2018
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The grapes we choose for our 2018 Buehler Vineyards Napa Valley Zinfandel come exclusively from our low-yielding estate vineyards. Dry-farmed for over 31 years, our 4.5 acre estate block consists of mature forty-four year-old vines which typically give us around 2.5 tons/acre of beautiful hillside Zinfandel fruit. Interspersed among the head-trained vines are a handful of Petite Sirah vines representing perhaps 5% of the total vines in this block. A traditional field companion to Zinfandel in pre-prohibition California vineyards, Petite Sirah contributes pepper, color, and tannin structure to the wine.
Compared with the past several years, the 2018 Napa Valley growing season was notable for its lack of severe weather events. A cool spring and an excellent fruit set made for a later start than the last several harvests; we completed our Zinfandel harvest on September 18th. Moderate temperatures demanded patience and rewarded those winemakers that waited for flavor development by delivering intensely flavored fruit with good natural acidity.
Our Zinfandel was aged for 12 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, 20% of which were new. At this level of “new wood”, the up-front endearing quality of Zinfandel can assert itself. Aromas of a briar patch on a hot summer day carry over to the palate and are carried in a mouth-filling, deeply layered, juicy package. The wine was crafted for immediate enjoyment but for those who enjoy a more complex wine displaying some bottle-aged character, aging for another two to three years is a good option.
Professional Ratings
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Zesty and briary, yet retains a sense of elegance, with notes of cherry, briar and pepper. A classic claret style of Zin. Drink now through 2029.
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Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.