The inaugural offering of the Fanucchi-Wood Road Zinfandel is nothing short of a blockbuster. Made from vines planted in 1890, this organically grown, dry-farmed vineyard is located near the town of Fulton in the Russian River Valley. Though mostly Zinfandel, the vineyard also has a small percentage of Alicante Bouchet and Petite Sirah interplanted, which provides amazing structure to this wine. Bursting with notes of boysenberry, the nose transitions to a dark hoisin sauce character. The unsurpassed elegance typifies this wine. In the mouth, berry flavors harmonize with well-balanced acid, and finishes with a hint of bitter cherry. While substantial in tannin, the polish and grain are outstanding and represent a classic offering from the Fanucchi-Wood Road site.
Wine & Spirits Review:
Jeff Mangahas worked with this vineyard when he was the winemaker at Hartford Court. Now he’s at Williams Selyem, and this is the firm’s first vintage of a Fanucchi-Wood Road Zin. The vines are mostly zinfandel, with some alicante bouchet and petite sirah mixed in, all of it planted in 1890, farmed as it would have been back then: organically and without irrigation. Those vines grow a wine full of savory fruit, clean, generous and lively. It tastes unfettered, a blast of fresh plums, walnut skins and spicy grape-skin tannins. Delicious if you decant it now for grilled lamb, this would be best kept ten years or more, allowing its inherent complexity to develop.
