A heady, intoxicating nose with black fruits and a hint of turmeric spice. On the palate, it exhibits traditional Zinfandel characteristics like red berries and black pepper, with a hint of brambly tannin.
Our “village” Zinfandel taps into vineyard sources across the Paso Robles AVA, including Thacher Winery’s own Kentucky Ranch vineyard. This is a great representation of Westside Paso Zinfandel, and many of the vineyards contributing to the blend harken back to an older era of California viticulture practices, being both head-trained and dry-farmed.
Vinification
All lots were handpicked, and fruit was destemmed and manually berry-sorted prior to cold soaking until fermentation was started, naturally and spontaneously, by wild yeasts.
Élevage
At the end of fermentation, lots were basket pressed, roughly settled for 24 hours, and then racked to barrel. Élevage took place in 60 and 70-gallon barriques, 12% new and 30% second-fill. The wine was racked and blended in the winter of 2022/23, then returned to barrel until it was bottled in the Spring of 2022. The minimal amount of effective SO2 was used, and this wine was crafted without the use of added enzymes, water, acids, tannins, or nutrients.
Vineyards: Bailey Ranch, Osgood Ranch, Kentucky Ranch, Old Oak
CP: 336
Bottle Date: April, 2022
Alcohol: 15.3%
pH: 3.8
TA (g/100mL): .57
Winemaker: Sherman Thacher
2022 Thacher Cinsault, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Baked raspberry tart on the nose with underlying herbal notes of black tea and a touch of suede float from the glass and invite a deeper inspection, revealing characteristics of bright strawberry, dried orange peel, or a hike through a eucalyptus grove at Montaña de Oro.
The fruit comes from the epic Glenrose Vineyard, and the material planted in that vineyard, as far as we can parse out of Don Rose’s memory, is one of the old UC Davis clones; probably Clone 2 or 3. The UC Davis material originates from a mother vine at the old UC Davis Jackson Experimental Station, in Amador County. The Jackson Experimental Station, one of 7 that UC Davis established, was a vineyard originally planted in 1889. The Station was abandoned in the early 1900’s, and the University lost proprietorship of the land to Squatters’ Rights in 1903. The vineyard sat abandoned and untended for nearly 60 years, until the Station was rediscovered in 1961 by UC Davis researchers. Surprisingly, the researchers found, in 1961, 132 different grape cultivars planted and still thriving at the Station. One of these cultivars, Plot E Row 5 Vine 4, was Cinsault, then known by its old Californian aliases, “Black Malvoisie” or “Black Malvasia”. Cuttings from this vine were propagated, and ultimately provided the material that Don planted at Glenrose.
Vinification
3.9 tons of Cinsault were hand-harvested from Glenrose Vineyard on 9/3, at 21.6 brix. The fruit was gently foot-trodden and fermented 100% whole cluster, and minimal pigéage was performed. It underwent a 7-day cold-soak until fermentation began, naturally and spontaneously, and was basket-pressed after 4 weeks on the skins and stems.
Élevage
The fruit was basket-pressed after fermentation, and the wine was raised in 500L, where native bacteria carried out malolactic fermentation. After malolactic, the wine was racked to 900L cement tanks. The wine was aged for 12 months before being bottled, unfiltered and unfined. This wine was crafted without the use of added enzymes, water, acids, tannins, or nutrients.
Specs
Vintage: 2022
Varietals: Cinsault (100%)
AVA: Adelaida District
Vineyards: Glenrose Vineyard
CP: 278
Bottle Date: August, 2023
Alcohol: 11.9%
pH: 3.73
TA (g/100mL): .65
Winemaker: Sherman Thacher
2021 Thacher Own Rooted Merlot
Tasting Notes
These plants are own-rooted; Clone 7 of merlot was planted to the Casagrande Vineyard in 1991. With Cherry cola, crushed mint, and green bell pepper, introduce Thacher’s first Merlot. On the palate, you will encounter black plum, cocoa powder, and bramble fruits such as boysenberry and blackberry. The lush mouthfeel and firm, balanced tannins of this Bordeaux variety will have you forgetting about Sideways and this varietal’s negative stereotypes.
Vinification
1.8 tons of Merlot was hand-harvested from Casagrande Vineyard on 9/18 at 24.3 brix. The fruit was fermented 25% whole cluster, with minimal pigéage. It underwent a 7-day cold-soak until fermentation began, naturally and spontaneously, and was basket-pressed after 4 weeks on the skins.
Élevage
The wine was raised in neutral barriques where native bacteria carried out malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 32 months before being bottled, unfiltered and unfined. This wine was crafted without the use of added enzymes, water, acids, tannins, or nutrients.
We are a family-owned and operated, authentic wine producer located in one of the world’s most superb wine-growing regions and fueled by some of the most talented people. We believe in this place we call home and the handmade wines we have to share with you. We have come from other places and have varied backgrounds, and we are grateful to share this lovely part of California with those who are also drawn to Paso Robles.
We strive to make elegant wines with more nuances than sheer power. We utilize diverse varietals from exceptional Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, and Monterey vineyards. Our wines are made with minimal intervention and native ferments, and the fruit, acid, and tannins are balanced naturally. We embrace the growing season’s inconsistencies and harvest’s unpredictability rather than producing a standardized product. We are genuine in this pursuit and care about what is in every bottle. What you see is what you get. We are all here to show you around and to pour you a taste. Come for a visit.
2021 Thacher Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Vinification
Élevage
Specs
2022 Thacher Cinsault, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Vinification
Élevage
Specs
2021 Thacher Own Rooted Merlot
Tasting Notes
Vinification
Élevage
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $624/case MSRP
About The Winery
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, Oct 2 - Monday, Oct 6