"Each time I drive through the Black Sears Vineyard on my way to our Candlestick Ridge Vineyard,, I marvel at what a special spot in the world it is. Those head trained vines that were planted in the mid 1970s continue to mark time and the change of seasons at the top of Howell Mountain. For definitive Zinfandel you have Ridge’s Geyserville and Lytton Springs, Jackass, Tofanelli, Hayne and Monte Rosso. On Howell Mountain, it’s a small band due to farming cost and real estate values. It’s Black Sears and Outpost and Lamborn (though after Lamborn’s sale we will see, unfortunately). I would never mess around with producing a Zinfandel if it weren’t for the fact that Black Sears is right next door, and I firmly believe it is the greatest Zinfandel vineyard on earth.
"Our 2021 Black Sears Vineyard Zinfandelis a beguiling wine of impeccable balance, power and length. The short crop in a drought year means that the white pepper and red, volcanic stone accents are woven deeply into the exotic, dark fruit. Our 2021 Black Sears Zinfandel displays loads of terroir maybe more-so than any other wine in the vintage. As with our Côte de Craig, this Zinfandel is incredibly versatile with food. It sings with grilled fish, grilled meat, pasta, cheeses, burgers and pizza. Unlike most Zinfandels, our wine sees only French oak barrels, is punched down by hand, is not allowed to get overripe, and it features the vineyard from start to finish. I love this wine year in and year out, but the 2021 vintage is one for the ages. As always, it is organically farmed, unfiltered and unfined. I’m looking forward to your text messages, photos and rave reviews on this one."
VINEYARDS: Black Sears Vineyard
APPELLATION: Howell Mountain
COMPOSITION: 100% Zinfandel
CASES PRODUCED: 140
APPELLATION: HOWELL MOUNTAIN
ELEVATION: 2400'
VARIETAL SOURCED: Zinfandel
Black Sears has “King of the Mountain” bragging rights on Howell Mountain - topping out at 2,400 feet, making it officially the highest vineyard on the mountain. The vineyard is located just past the gate of our Howell Mountain estate. And we now surround it – literally – having purchased the vineyard just on the other side of it as well. For 25 years, winemakers have clamored for the Zinfandel grown here: both biodynamic and organic, the site is dry farmed and the vines pruned in the old world style with no trellising. Zinfandel thrives in the mountain’s well-drained, rocky volcanic soils and moderate climate. Without doubt, the Black Sears Vineyard is the finest zinfandel vineyard in the world, and we are lucky to get a little fruit each year to make something special and rare.
Our 2021 Black Sears Vineyard Zinfandel is a beguiling wine of impeccable balance, power and length. The short crop in a drought year means that the white pepper and red, volcanic stone accents are woven deeply into the exotic, dark fruit. This Zinfandel displays loads of terroir maybe more-so than any other wine in the vintage, and it’s incredibly versatile with food. It sings with grilled fish, grilled meat, pasta, cheeses, burgers and pizza.
