2021 Dutton-Goldfield Zinfandel Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard Russian River Valley 750 ml

Dan Goldfield is a legend who has made wine for Schramsberg, and was hand-picked by Sonoma County legend Jess Jackson to make the wines at cool-climate-focused Hartford Court. Steve Dutton is the fifth-generation head of a Sonoma County clan that’s been farming some of the area’s most precious land since the 1920s, and was named Sonoma County’s Young Farmer of the Year not long after he and Dan founded Dutton-Goldfield with a handshake in 1998.

The historic Morelli Lane Vineyard sits atop Stoetz Ridge on the western edge of Russian River Valley near Occidental. This 1.8-acre block of dry-farmed, head-trained vines was planted by the Morelli family in the late 1800s and was revived by the Dutton family in 1995 after years of neglect. The vineyard's unique location combines coastal coolness with hilltop exposure, producing fruit with both brightness and density.

Treating this old-vine Zinfandel with care typically reserved for Pinot Noir, the 2021 vintage began with meticulous hand-sorting, followed by a 7-day cold soak to unlock the fruit's deep color and layered flavors. Fermentation proceeded in small open-top vessels, where gentle punch downs preserved the aromatics. The aging regimen featured thoughtfully selected French oak from top coopers: Taransaud and Cadus.

In spring 2022, a single racking married the barrel selections, allowing the wine to develop richness and complexity through the seasons before its April 2023 bottling. The final wine captures both the historic vineyard's personality and the distinctive cool-climate character of this coastal site.