2019 Hook & Ladder Zinfandel Marcucci Farms Estate Bottled Russian River Valley 750 ml

Hook & Ladder only made 125 cases of their Marcucci Farms Zinfandel—an estate-grown masterpiece that perfectly captures the essence of cool-climate Zin in the Russian River Valley.

Most of the bottles will be carried out to cars parked at the winery’s tasting room on legendary Olivet Lane, where they’ll be transported past Hook & Ladder’s immaculate vines and iconic vintage red firetruck, eventually making their way to the tables of some of Sonoma’s most discerning palates.

The rest of those bottles? They’re heading to the cellars of our members—a thank-you for the support we’ve shown to one of Russian River’s modern-classic wineries. 

Founder Cecil De Loach is one of Sonoma’s pioneers. He helped put the Russian River Valley AVA on the map. In the early 70s, he was among the first to build a winery in the area and put the Russian River name on his labels—long before the AVA was established. He then worked tirelessly to get the boundaries of the region formally recognized by the government.

And while he’s best known for the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay he made under his eponymous label—which he sold in 2003, starting Hook & Ladder shortly after, with fruit from 148 acres of his most precious vineyards—he’s long had a passion for Russian-River Zinfandel.

The area’s climate affords Zinfandel uncommonly long hang-times. That leads to dark-fruited wines with brightness and silky tannins—but don’t sacrifice an iota of power. 

When he founded Hook & Ladder, De Loach’s simple goal was to make estate wines that his friends could afford to drink, specifically the pals he had from his days as a San Francisco firefighter. Now he’s able to offer some spectacular Russian-River Zin.