2019 2019 Primitivo
Primitivo, and Zinfandel – one of the same? We say absolutely not! Both clonal mutations from the Croation grape Crljenak, they each present a different style of wine here in California , just as Pinot Meunier is a clone of Pinot Noir and is a very different style of wine.
Primitivo is a dark skinned grape, known for lovely tannins, robust alcohol, and inky color. Per Raft Wines style, we’ve made a slightly lighter version, with lower alcohol then most of it contemporaries, but still that rich tannin and gorgeous fruit profile.
Technical
Tasting Notes
A lovely wine on a cold night. On the nose, dried raspberry, pomegranate molasses, cinnamon, and potpourri. On first sip, a powerful expression of bold red fruits combined with an earthy tannin. Its a gorgeous wine for any occasion.
Details
There are a few vineyards around California that are just fun to work with. Farmed and managed by Sam Bilbro of Idlewild Wines and Evan Lewandowski of Ruth Lewandowski, it was just a true delight to work with the fruit of Fox Hill in Mendocino.
Picked early on September 28, 2019, the wine was brought back to the winery cold and crisp. We did 1 ton destemmed, and kept .6 tons as whole cluster. After careful and gentle cap management, we pressed the two lots together on October 12, after 14 days of primary fermentation.
A first for Raft Wines, 25% of this wine was aged in a new Radoux barrel, while the rest aged in neutral oak.
The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered on August 13, 202 and released December 8 of the same year.