Lithic Hill Zinfandel Sonoma Valley 2019

You are quite familiar with us singing the praises of the most elite and coveted Cabernet-dominant wines that are produced in the Napa Valley. Oakville, Pritchard Hill, Rutherford, Coombsville, Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain and Diamond Mountain – these world-renowned AVAs roll off the tongue. They all house treasured vineyards that are known to possess pure poise and sophistication and are the reason why Napa Valley is a well-respected winegrowing region amongst connoisseurs across the world. Over the Mayacamas Mountains, to the west of Napa, sits Sonoma Valley which is best known for its esteemed Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The increased oceanic influence in the Sonoma Valley certainly lends itself towards these Burgundian varietals, but there are hidden pockets within the valley of Sonoma where Bordeaux varietals thrive. The Hamel family, and their namesake winery, has produced world-class wines from the western (Sonoma) side of the Mayacamas for decades. Between their biodynamic practices, and their esteemed winemaker, Martha McClellan of famed Sloan and Checkerboard, the family has quite an accomplished business to rest their laurels on. But that’s not really their style. With their newest brand (and we mean new – they don’t even have a website yet!), Lithic Hill, brothers John and George Hamel have set out to further explore the potential that lies within the unique terroir of the Western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. The Mayacamas Mountains, which run north to south, acts as a physical divide between the Napa and Sonoma Valley. Millions of years ago, Sonoma Valley was rife with volcanic activity, and from these eruptions and uplift, the Mayacamas Mountains were created. As a result of this ancient activity, the slopes are comprised of volcanic rock from lava flow, and elevations along the range reach peaks of 4,700 feet. The western-facing side of the Mayacamas are rugged and steep and boast an abundance of raw and decomposing basal. This fractured, fissured, and crumbling terrain might sound unhospitable, but in fact it is ideal for grapes. Let us explain: if vines are planed in rich, fertile soil, they will grow vigorously and produce an abundance of fruit. However, because the vine is working to support such vigor, each bunch of grapes will be of mediocre quality. In contrast, if a vine is planted in nutrient-depleted soils like those on the western face of the Mayacamas, the vine will struggle to thrive and thus produce far less fruit. But the kicker is that this fruit, though far less in quantity, will be outstanding in quality. It’s an usual equation, but one that drives many winemaker’s to seek out terrain that seems almost impossible to tame. The 2019 Lithic Hill Zinfandel is sourced from a handful of vineyards that were thoughtfully sought out by the Hamel brothers. As they like to say, “we’ve done the work so you can discover and dig a level deeper.” The wine is a blend of 84% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah, and 5% Mourvèdre, and was fermented in stainless steel tanks before being aged in French oak barrels, of which 70% were new. The resulting wine strikes an intriguing balance between fruitful and savory. Notes of blackberry, boysenberry, and cherry fill the palate at first, and flavors of black pepper, clove, pine, and anise follow closely behind. This wine has a very focused mineral quality to it, undoubtedly lent by the rocky soils in which it was grown. This is a debut brand, never before seen in the retail sphere, and we are so proud to share it with you today!