SORRY, SOLD OUT

Mietz Cellars is a small winery owned and run by Keith and Nancy Mietz. The winery and merlot vineyards are surrounded by zinfandel vines. Our estate vineyard was planted in zinfandel before we planted merlot in 1981. The winery door frames a view of the 90 year old Bacchi zinfandel vineyard, just across Limerick Lane; it was inevitable that there would eventually be a Mietz Cellars/Bacchi zinfandel.

VINTAGE NOTES

The ‘98 vintage was one of small crops and low yields due to spring rains during flowering. The weather during the ripening period was erratic and there were three successive heat waves during the month of August. The effect of the weather on the fruit caused raisining and stress. The wine results were surprising because the outcome was a zinfandel with intense fruit flavors, full rich body, and elegant balance.

WINE MAKING NOTES 

The fruit was crushed in small lots (4.5 tons per fermenter), fermented and hand punched with a warm fermentations of 86 degrees F in open topped fermenters. The fermentations ranged from 7–10 days.

The wine was gently pressed and drained into cooperage, 100% French oak barrels, 25% new and 75% 2-years-old. The wine was in barrel 14 months. It is unfined and unfiltered. 

BACCHI VINEYARD

The Bacchi vineyard is located on Limerick Lane in Healdsburg, California. This 16 acre vineyard was planted in 1908 by Bartolomeo Bacchi. The vineyard is now owned and operated by Bartolomeo’s granddaughter, Brenda Bacchi and her husband Doug Rafanelli.

TASTING NOTES

Appearance: bright, dark ruby Aromas: rich, black berry, supported by toasty oak aroma Flavors: full bodied with black fruit flavors and creamy oak textures

The character of the wine is evident in its textural elements – a creamy rich middle and a long finish.