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Steele Reds
STEELE ZINFANDEL
CATFISH VINEYARD
Catfish Vineyard is truly an old-timer, planted in 1901 outside the small farming town of
Kelseyville, CA. Aromas of brown sugar and toasty oak begin this wonderful
wine experience. The small, concentrated berries from this
century-old vineyard offer just that, concentrated flavors.
Lake County Dust gives this wine a chalky, dusty mouth
feel amid wonderful ripe blackberry and raspberry that
cut through to a complex edge of minerally tannins. Tones
of cedar give way to spice with good depth and a long,
lingering finish. This wine has elegance and finesse.
The vineyard is located on the Bell Hill bench of Lake
County just south of Kelseyville. Catfish Vineyard, planted
in 1901, is head pruned and stands on its own roots. Steele
Wines purchased the vineyard in 2000 and we have been working
to rehabilitate the old vines since that time. We have
pruned the vines back so that each vine has fewer shoots
and therefore fewer grape bunches and we have planted new
vines where the 100-year-old vines have expired. A vintage
consuming process but well worth the effort. Catfish Vineyard
Zinfandel is actually a field blend of a number of varieties,
including small amounts of Carignan, Alicante Bouche, Cabernet,
and several other varieties – even some white grapes.
Having more than one variety assured the old-time vintners
that they would have some grapes to harvest regardless
of the spring frosts or autumn storms.
Following hand picking and crushing, we utilize a warm-to-moderate
temperature fermentation on the Steele Catfish Vineyard
Zinfandel this is followed by 12 months in hybrid barrels. The
hybrid barrels are unique in that they have alternating
staves of French and American oak.
Because of the well-drained volcanic soil and wide variety
of grapes in the field blend, Catfish does not frequently
exhibit typical warm-climate old-vine Zinfandel characteristics.
It tends toward a more bramble berry palate. The wine has
medium tannins that will allow it to age for a number of
years or be consumed now. The wine provides a mouth full
of tart red fruit, and many layers of jam, coffee, and
tar along with good structure and balance. Enjoy this wine
with Cioppino, pasta or red meat in a cream-based sauce,
grilled venison, spice-rubbed leg or rack of lamb, pizza
with pesto and sausage, or simply all by itself with a
fire crackling on the hearth.
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