In the 2021 growing season, despite three consecutive years of exceptionally dry conditions with well below-average rainfall, our intensively farmed vineyards adapted amazingly well by moderating their crop load and focusing their energy into ripening a smaller but very concentrated crop.

Following ZD’s signature style of producing big, ripe, fruit-forward wines, we sourced the grapes from small, organically certified vineyards, each with its own unique “terroir.” Each vineyard lot was fermented separately in small open-top fermenters and punched down three times a day, ensuring a gentle but effective extraction of color and tannins. The individual lots were then aged in small American Oak cooperage for a year before the final blend was put together in June 2022. The blend was then for an additional year in barrel.

This 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet has a beautiful deep ruby color and complex aromas of cassis, black cherry, and clove with subtle hints of baking spice, cola, and toasty vanilla. The palate expresses an ample core of red-black fruits with soft tannins and moderate acidity that is perfectly balanced and integrated with the toasted American Oak. This wine is drinking beautifully now but will continue to develop and gain complexity for many years to come.