Martha Stoumen 2019 Young Vines Extended Elevage, Mendocino County

Martha Stoumen 2019 Young Vines Extended Elevage, Mendocino County

Item Number: 17126

UPC: None

Country: USA
Region: California
Sub Region: Mendocino
Appellation/AVA: Mendocino County
Estate Grown Wine: No
Vintage: 2019
Grape(s): 99% Zinfandel-related clones / 1% Vermentino
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 12.5
Viticulture: Certified Organic
Case Production: 262

Young Vines sits at the intersection of then and now; a buoyant, youthful body that’s rooted in over 100 years of California winemaking history. As much as this wine is a child with an old soul, it’s an expression of wise elders who are children at heart. This wine spent 18 months in barrel and an additional 14 months bottle aging before release (32 months total).

Vinification Notes: All Zinfandel-related clones were harvested together and co-fermented whole cluster in an open-top stainless steel tank. During early stages of fermentation, gentle body punch downs and short pump overs were used in order to limit extraction. The wine was racked around 2/3 way through fermentation. Close to dryness, a seal was placed on the tank to begin an extended maceration. After a month total on stems and skins, the tank was pressed, and the wine was racked to neutral oak barrels. The Vermentino was gently foot trodden before pressing. Juice was racked to stainless steel to begin fermentation. The wine was twice racked off its lees, once after a very active 12 day fermentation, and again when fermentation was complete. The wine continued to age in neutral Flextank for 9 months before a splash was added to the 2019 Young Vines blend.

The initial release of 2019 Young Vines was kept in barrel for 9 months before racking and final blending; for the extended elevage series, we selected 10 barrels to continue to age for 18 months in total in neutral French oak barrels before bottling.

SO2 Notes: Free SO2 12 mg/L, total SO2 36 mg/L.

Vineyard Notes: Venturi Vineyard, Mendocino County; certified organic; dry farmed on Pinole gravelly loam soils. While the soils in these parcels have been planted to grapes for over 100 years, these “young vines” of Zinfandel-related clones (Primitivo, Rockpile, Dupratt, Dempel) are less than 15 years old, on average. The Vermentino, planted alongside the Rockpile block, was harvested for the very first time in 2019.

Tasting Notes: A juicy nose of wild blackberry, baking spice, and ancho chili — plus lemon zest from the splash of Vermentino — gives you everything you want Zinfandel to smell like (but it rarely does). A generous body is balanced by moderate acidity and characteristically fine, dusty tannins (Venturi Vineyard’s signature). This wine finishes dry and is perfect with food.