Stirm Wine Co. Zinfandel 2020
Location: United States, California
Winemaker: Ryan Stirm
Grapes: Zinfandel
Soil: limestone, deep sandy loam
Winemaking: Fermented whole-cluster in an open-top redwood fermenter, with 10% Wirz Vineyard Riesling added into the mix for aromatics and lift. Élevage in old barriques for ten months on the lees. Unfined, unfiltered.
From Stirm Wine: From the Wirz Vineyard, named for its longtime farmer-owner, Pat Wirz, sits in the wind-whipped Cienega Valley right on top of the San Andreas Fault, at the bottom of the eastern flank of the Gabilan mountains. This ’20 Zinfandel hails from a long and cool growing year, permitting physiological ripeness without any of the bruiser, saccharine qualities you might expect from the stereotypical thick ‘n’ ripe versions of this Mediterranean variety. Aromatic and medium weight, with fine structure and no sense of dullness. A charming argument for a reconsideration of this variety in California; only 190 cases made.
It's our belief that authentic wine is a direct reflection of the specific patch of earth it comes from. This ethos drives us to work with the most unique and rugged vineyards found on the central coast. These special sites have a story to tell unlike any other. We have two simple goals that direct every operation above all else: to present the narrative of the growing season in a delicious and transparent format, and to craft a wine with a strong foundation intended to age for decades. The fundamentals that we follow are old-school; we work with the seasons. We spend the majority of our time working in the vineyards, with our harvest season spent between monitoring natural fermentations to picking grapes and the overtime hours dedicated to fixing broken gear. Every year is unique, so the vineyard and cellar practices evolve annually to adapt to the changes each season brings forth. These simple methods require thoughtful, timely decision making, detailed work, and the patience to allow the wine to evolve at its own pace. The results are singular, authentic wines that represent a region, a site, and are a piece of living California history.