Handley 2021 Zinfandel Kazmet Vineyard, Redwood Vly

The Wine

The fruit for this wine was sourced from Kazmet Ranch, a CCOF Organic Certified grower in California's Redwood Valley. These old vines are head pruned and dry farmed, yielding grapes that provide very ripe, concentrated flavors.

The wine's classic Zinfandel aromas include warm black berry pie, warm plums, and fresh, moist earth. On the palate we find the aromas provided an accurate preview of the main attraction - flavors of bramble berries, black plum, anise, nuts and hints of sage.

The wine is nedium-bodied, rich and round in the mouth with soft tannins and delicate acidity framing the long-lasting fruit on the finish. A small addition of Syrah (10%) adds a little tannin structure and complexity to the blend. Aged for 16 months in French oak barrels (20% new).

Cases produced: 197
Alcohol: 14.7%

The Winery

The late Milla Handley was the founder and owner of her eponymous winery and an early wine pioneer in Anderson Valley wine history. Along with Ted Bennet and Deborah Cahn of Navarro and their neighbors at Husch, Milla started her Anderson Valley wine career in the mid 70's, attracted by the bucolic, independent-minded nature of Anderson Valley. Visitors to the tasting room get to enjoy more than the art of wine - they taste amidst samples of her family's extensive collection of tribal art, which is reflected on the label design as well. 

A force of nature, Mila passed away all to early due to Covid. Fortunately, she had already begun a generational transition to her kids and their spouses, so we hope to continue sourcing this wine for some time to come.