Matthiasson Sonoma Valley Zinfandel Armor Plate Vineyard 2022 TAGS Named for a spinning crossbow

Named for a spinning crossbow arrow

but Manu Michelini -- of the Mendoza winemaking clan -- teamed up with Rioja native Carlos Fernandez in Labastida to farm old vines organically and biodynamically at around 600 meters

sometimes called "the poor man's RSV" — and 2022 may be its most generous

Driven by cinnamon

extended aging

Matthiasson Sonoma Valley Zinfandel Armor Plate Vineyard 2022 TAGS Named for a spinning crossbowArmor Plate is a treasure: a tiny dry farmed, organically tended block of Sonoma Valley Zinfandel planted in the 1890s, now 130 plus years old, owned by the Hamel family (a viticulture client of Steve's). Located in volcanic alluvium near Glen Ellen, the vines deliver Zinfandel that looks nothing like the jammy stereotype. Matthiasson ferments half whole cluster, half destemmed, presses after 14 days on the skins, and ages the wine in neutral Burgundy