Fall 2018 Release
2016 Ancient
Old Hill Ranch
Our "Ancient Field Blend" comes from the original vines that were
planted on Old Hill Ranch in the 1880's. Approximately 65% Zinfandel with the remaining varieties co harvested and fermented together. Includes Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre to name a few. 12 Acres, 30 grape varieties,
1 wine.
Bottling:
Total SO2 70 ppm
TA 5.7 g/l
pH 3.74
alc 15.3%
457 cases
2016 Bambino
Old Hill Ranch
The teenage "Bambino" vines were planted in 2000 and represent our "young vine" Zinfandel. The 2016 blend is at least 75% Zinfandel that is co-fermented with Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouchet.
Fermented with indigenous yeast without any nutrient additions. Aged in neutral French oak for approximately 10 months.
Bottling:
Total SO2 55 ppm
TA 5.6 g/l
pH 3.75
alc 14.6%
627 cases
2016 Anne’s
Upper 5th Vineyard
2016 Anne's Field Blend
Our Mom, Anne Teller has been farming commercially in Sonoma Valley since the late 1970’s. Her 50-acre farm includes the Upper 5th Vineyard, a century old, one-acre vineyard that is promiscuously interplanted with nut and fruit trees. Managed with Anne’s conscientious and benevolent farming practices, including no-till dry farming.
The Upper 5th is a field blend of five grape varieties:
67% Zinfandel | 19% Peloursin | 8% Petite Sirah
3% Carignane | 3% French Colombard
3% Carignane | 3% French Colombard
34 cases
2016 Otto’s Grenache
Old Hill Ranch
Otto’s
Grenache was planted to honor our Step Father Otto Teller. Opinionated and cantankerous, Otto believed grapevines were too coddled and needed great stress to produce the best wines. To honor Otto we planted this field blend in 2010 on a modestly steep hillside that
faces the hot setting sun. The soils are
shallow, between two to three feet deep, and they are underlain with a thick
impermeable volcanic tuff made from ejected rock and ash that is compacted and
cemented into rock. If these growing conditions aren't
challenging enough, the vines are also dry farmed. Average yields are low primarily because the
berries are so small and these grapes produce very intense and colorful
wine.
Bottling:
Total SO2 65 ppm
TA 5.7 g/l
pH 3.73
alc 15.3%
49 cases
2017 Mixed Whites
Old Hill Ranch
Our Mixed White block was established on Old Hill Ranch in 2011 as an ode to the unheralded white grape varieties found in many of Sonoma's historic field blends. Muscat, French Colombard, Chasselas, and Clairette Blanc cuttings came from Old Hill Ranch, Gewürztraminer, Trousseau Gris and Riesling came from Compagni-Portis Vineyard, Muscadelle from Casa Santinamaria, Malvasia and Grenache Blanc from Rossi Ranch and Chenin Blanc from Carlisle. Grapes are whole-cluster pressed, fermented cool in Stainless and then aged in neutral barrels sur lees for 6 months. The wine is quite delicate with a hint of muscat spiciness with a bright natural acidity.
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Old Hill Ranch
The six-acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted on Old Hill Ranch in 1983 by our neighbor who leased the vineyard until 2004. The original vines were planted on AXR rootsock, meaning that they are infected with phyloxera and their roots are compromised. The net effect is a very devigorated vine, producing low yields. The wines from this block tend towards austere and lean, harking back to Cabernets of yesteryear...
Older Vintages Available
2016 Grenache
Old Hill Ranch
This Grenache is selectively and exclusively harvested from the ancient vines, and is thus some of the oldest vine Grenache in the state. The blend consists of approximately 85% Grenache, with the remaining grapes a blend of Syrah, Carignane, Mourvedre, and Alicante Bouschet.
2016 Mixed Blacks
Old Hill Ranch
The term "Mixed Blacks" was coined by old-timey grape growers in reference to the non-Zinfandel grapes in a field blend, and that is exactly what this wine is: everything but the Zin! Roughly half of this blend is composed of Grenache and Alicante Bouchet, while the other half contains the remaining 30 or so varieties that exist in the field blend.
Alc. 15.8%. 46 cases produced.
2016 Petite Sirah
Old Hill Ranch
For some reason that remains a mystery, this little block of Petite Sirah that we planted in 1999 produces little tiny grapes of unusual concentration. The wine is blended with 25% Zin to soften the edges, but it remains dark and intense, with black pepper and Old Hill spice. The wines from this block have been proven to be very long lived.
2017 Rosé of Old Hill Ranch
This year our Rosé is 21% Grenache, 58% Zinfandel, 13% Mourvedre, 4% Syrah and 4% Carignane.
The grapes are harvested early, whole cluster pressed, and finished dry. Then the juice is fermented cold using indigenous yeast. The wine is very pale in color, beautifully aromatic and crisp on the finish, what a fine accompaniment to the optimism of spring!