2014 Trentadue Winery Old Patch Red Lot #42

Botanist Andrew Bouton and Geyserville’s Old Patch

Evelyn and Leo Trentadue carried on the Italian family’s long tradition of farming when they settled in Northern California. But by the late 1950s, there was little market for apples, prunes, pears, and table grapes. As developers encroached upon their orchards, already blueprinting what would eventually come to be called the Silicon Valley, the Trentadues packed up and moved north to Sonoma Valley.

At the time, few in Sonoma Valley were giving much thought to winegrowing. As a result, land was dirt-cheap, and hundreds of ranches were up for sale for next to nothing. Leo Trentadue visited dozens of properties before settling on a 208-acre spread. That purchase would prove to be one of the most fortuitous in the history of Alexander Valley, even if Leo had never even heard of Andrew Bouton.

The Trentadue “Old Patch” is named for those original late-1800s plantings. Typically, Trentadue’s “Old Patch” blends are comprised of equal parts Zinfandel and Carignane, with a splash of Petite Sirah. But the extraordinary growing season of 2014 — the third consecutive drought year in Alexander Valley — nursed capricious Zinfandel to uniform ripeness. That’s why the just-released Lot 42 is dominated by ultra-rich and spicy Zin, lightly dosed with black-fruit Carignane and Petite Sirah.

The 2014 Trentadue “Old Patch Red” Lot 42 is black. Jet black. Luscious aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and mountain blueberry, tinged with licorice and violets. Ultra-concentrated, packed with gobs of spicy black-fruit preserves, dark chocolate, licorice, and a splash of kirsch. This is a classic from the Trentadue family, a powerhouse Zinfandel blend that pays homage to Andrew Bouton’s experimental planting and Leo’s intuition and perseverance.

A $25 bottle masquerading behind a $12.99 price tag, this is an EASY case-buy. 300 bottles are up for grabs.

• ABV 14.20%
• Enjoy right away
• % Red Blend