© Talty Vineyards & Winery, 2007

A complex growing season, the 2005 vintage had an early start and a late finish. Unusually warm weather the second week in March woke the vines from dormancy, initiating early bud break. April became very mild, but May and June were much cooler than usual. A series of spring storms raised concerns, especially in May when a winter like rainstorm dropped more than 5" in a 24hr. period. By the beginning of July, warmer season like weather prevailed. August was cool with foggy mornings which prolonged harvest further but allowed for extra hang time for the fruit. The first part of September followed with more cooler than average temperatures. Mid- September temperatures increased and allowed the fruit to fully ripen this awesome harvest.

One of the exciting things about growing and making Zinfandel; the Mother Nature factor. She produces slight nuances from year to year based on the growing season--intense heat that spares only the heartiest vines and fruit, cool temperatures that allow long hang times and add layers of flavors and fruity complexity--slight variation that can only be complemented by considerate farming and winemaking practices. After all, great wine is made in the vineyard.

2005 Estate Zinfandel — Release Date: September, 2007

The 2005 Estate Zinfandel was aged in 35% French oak and 65% American oak with a blend of 7% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignane. This succulent wine is representative of Dry Creek Valley, ripe black cherries and boysenberries with hints of plum and dark chocolate. This new Zinfandel has depth and broad complexity, balanced wonderfully with mouth-rounding ÔZinliciousÕ fruit, finalizing with a long, lingering finish.

Our goals as a winery are to produce the highest quality wines through careful and meticulous farming processes in the vineyard, allowing our winemaker to start his winemaking at the very beginning of the process, in the vineyard.

2005 Filice Connolly Vineyard— Release Date: September, 2007

Our newest single vineyard designate Zinfandel, the Filice Connolly vineyard is located in the small town of St. Helena in the northern Napa Valley. This 60 year-old vineyard is only about 2.5 acres, head-pruned and dry-farmed just like our estate vineyard. This small vineyard is held to only produce about 2 tons per acre, only about 225 cases produced, but the fruit quality is exceptional and the wine that it produced is truly exciting.

100% Zinfandel aged solely in American oak, bursting with ripe red cherries with loads of white pepper spice, smooth tannins, and a long lingering finish of bright fruit. Superbly balanced, the 2005 Filice Connolly Zinfandel is truly a gem. The owners of this vineyard have given us decision making control over the farming of this small gem of a vineyard, which will give us the ability to create great and consistent wines in the future.

 

2004 Estate Zinfandel — Release Date: September, 2006

Now, after approximately 18 months of bottle aging the 2004 Estate Zinfandel has begun to blossom. Aged in 35% French oak and 65% American oak with a blend of 7% Estate Petite Sirah and 3% Estate Carignane. This succulent wine is representative of Dry Creek Valley, ripe black cherries, hints of ripe boysenberries and plum. This Zinfandel has depth and broad complexity, balanced wonderfully with mouth-rounding "zinlicious" fruit, finalizing with a long, lingering finish.

The Talty winemaking philosophy is simple: wine is made in the vineyard. Our single-vineyard designation and that critical balance between winemaker and vine make our Estate Zinfandel so special. Great care goes into every growing season, and using the natural yeast of our own vineyard to ferment the Zinfandel maintains the uniqueness of our special viticultural area. This is what makes our wines such a wonderful experience.

Although we have been making our wines for more than a decade, this commercial venture is representative of our wine-making dream come true: a handcrafted, velvety-smooth, rich, full-bodied Estate Zinfandel from the fruit of our vines. This Zinfandel has been fermented and aged under our own watchful gaze — truly the winemaker growing with the vine!

Estate wines of the Talty Winery come from dry-farmed grapes grown on our own six-acre vineyard in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley. As was my father's way, each Talty Zinfandel is truely handcrafted, from vine to wine. Our dry-farmed and head-pruned vines purposely produce a very small crop — approximately two tons per acre. This ensures the intensity and concentration of the fruit from the very start. Once picked, our grapes are fermented by their own natural yeast in small, open-top bins. They are punched down five times per day for the best flavor and color extraction.

Our wines are available through our mailing list, at the winery, or at a handful of selected local fine wine retailers. You can print the order form directly from the website.