Lot #7 Alexander Valley Vineyards

Alexander Valley Vineyards (AVV) and the Wetzel family have a long history with Zinfandel. The culmination of their decades with the varietal was recognized in December 2023 with Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list announcement. Alexander Valley Vineyards Zinfandel was the only Zinfandel named to the 2023 list. In celebration of that achievement, they selected one of their most distinctive lots destined for the next vintage of AVV Zinfandel. In honor of the Top 100, AVV is simply calling this wine “Primo.”

The southern Alexander Valley is defined by warm days and cool nights. That climate and gnarly old vines planted in 1891 on the valley floor make this a unique and special lot of Zinfandel. The giant head-pruned vines are low-yielding and produce grapes with incredible concentration and flavors.

Winemaker Kevin Hall selected a single barrel of Zinfandel from the century-old vines for this special bottling, allowing the fruit to shine in this small lot. After harvest on Sept 6, 2022, the wine was fermented for three weeks in half-ton macro-bins with gentle punch-downs twice daily to extract flavor and color. After fermentation, the wine was pressed off and settled for 24 hours before being barreled down into a new Barrel Associates American oak barrel. The wine will gently age in AVV’s naturally cooled caves for 22 months before bottling. This is a big, rich wine with enticing aromas and the classic spicy flavors that Zin lovers expect, along with beautiful balance and acidity for which Alexander Valley Vineyards is known.

WINEMAKER(S): Kevin Hall

ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: July 2024
ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: December 2024

National Distribution: Includes all 50 states and Washington, DC

International Distribution: Includes Japan, Korea; please inquire for additional countries.

A winemaker dinner or store visit is offered in your market as part of this lot. Must be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date.