Description

Papera Ranch, planted in 1934 in the Piner-Olivet area of the Russian River Valley, is always one of Bedrock’s most consistent and excellent vineyards, and 2024 is no exception. Composed of about 60% Zinfandel and 38% Carignan, with the remaining fraction composed of nine other varieties, Papera is both elegant and powerful, with beautifully delineated blue and red fruits overlaying classic cool-year RRV tensile structure and brightness.

Picked on September 19th at 24.2 Brix, the fermentation included 20% whole cluster from the more Carignan-dominant section to enhance perfume and spice. Aged in a small percentage of newer oak, this was aged predominantly in 300-liter puncheons to put the focus squarely on the expressive fruit character. As always, this will age nicely but can also be enjoyed earlier for its sapidity and juiciness.

“The 2024 Papera Ranch Heritage Wine is textbook Russian River. Rich, heady and exuberant, the 2024 offers up copious red-toned fruit intermingled with scents of orange peel, cinnamon, dried flowers, coffee and cedar. Soft contours add to an impression of total finesse. Zinfandel and Carignan drive a field blend composed of 13 varieties.” – 96 points, Antonio Galloni