Populis 2022 'Reversee' Red Blend, Mendocino County

Vineyard Notes: Grapes for the Populis 2022 'Reversee' are sourced from 4 different vineyards:
Carignane, Venturi Vineyard, Mendocino, CA (Carignane)
Hawkeye Ranch, Redwood Valley AVA Mendocino, CA (Carignane & Pinot Noir)
Dogali Vineyard, Redwood Valley AVA, Mendocino, CA (Zinfandel)
Lolonis Vineyard, Redwood Valley AVA, Mendocino CA (Zinfandel)

Venturi Vineyard is located just north of Ukiah, in the Calpella Valley, on predominantly Pinole gravelly loam soils. These highly regarded soils contain a mixture of sandstone, shale and quartz formed from alluvial flows. Redwood Valley is near Ukiah in Mendocino County and has similar gravelly-loam soils. However, this valley rests at a higher elevation and nearer the mountains, making it a cooler climate than Ukiah.

Larry Venturi is a 3rd generation farmer tending to these 70 year old Carignane vines planted on his family's historic site in Calpella (Ukiah). Peter Johnson and his family of Hawkeye Ranch have been farming grapes and pears in Mendocino County for 4 generations. Gary Dogali’s father planted his old-vine field blend Zinfandel back in the 1940’s. The Lolonis vineyard was established in the 1920’s and these Zinfandel vines were also planted in the 1940s. All the vineyards are organic and dry-farmed.

Winemaking Notes: Each variety was fermented separately and then blended prior to bottling. The Carignane from Venturi Vineyard and Hawkeye Ranch underwent 7 days of carbonic maceration before being destemmed and fermented to dryness. The Zinfandel that came from Dogali Vineyard was macerated for 5 days before pressing. For the Lolonis vineyard Zinfandel, two thirds was pressed as rose and the remaining third was destemmed and the two were co-fermented together. The components were raised in Flextanks and blended after 6 months of aging. 18 ppm of sulfur was added just prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes: This wine is a quintessential bistro wine. There are loads of bright and juicy red fruit on the nose and mouth. Plenty of acid on the attack and a touch of structure on the finish keeps this wine taut and oh so drinkable. This wine style is delicious with lighter meals, or straight out of the bottle with a slight chill.