Beran Zinfandel Napa Valley 2012 (750ml)

 

The State of Zinfandel

 

Beran The Bear is forever a figure of strength and head-strong drive.  With the same power and conviction our Zinfandels are grown and crafted without compromise.

 

Winemaker Notes

 

Beran Napa Zinfandel 2012 is the big brother to Beran California Zinfandel, showing the same rich ripe fruit characters with slightly more complexity and structure.  The wine is bright, vibrant purple with a deep black core.  Aromas of black cherry, sweet pipe tobacco and dark chocolate are enhanced by hints of black pepper spice and cedar.  These flavors are carried through on the palate with richness and weight.  This wine has great persistence and a slight dustiness on the finish from the fine-grained tannins.

 

Sourcing Philosophy:  In making Beran Napa Zinfandel, we had the pleasure to work with some of the region’s most noteworthy Zinfandel vineyards.  From vines planted high on Alas Peak to gravelly-soil vineyards in eastern Calistoga on the valley floor, each site we worked with had an impact on the blend.  We also were thrilled to include some Petite Sirah fruit from old-vine plantings.

 

2012 Vintage:  After a dry winter, Napa County experienced some good rainfall in March, followed by a warm, yet not overly hot, summer. In general, 2012 offered a mildly warm growing season with the only heat spike being a two-day occurrence close to harvest.  This gentle vintage gave the fruit long hang time for ideal acid and sugar balance along with complexity of flavors.

 

Winemaker’s Notes

 

Beran Napa Zinfandel 2012 is the big brother to Beran California Zinfandel, showing the same rich ripe fruit characters with slightly more complexity and structure.

 

We created a full-bodied, complex and beautifully structured Zinfandel by picking the grapes at optimal ripeness, then following that with extended fruit maceration of up to 30 days.  The wine rested for 12 months in a combination of American and French oak before bottling.

 

We blended in some Petite Sirah — another grapes of historical significance for California.  When vines were first planted in the state, Petite Sirah (along with Carignane) was often planted with Zinfandel in fields of mixed blacks that were harvested and then vinified together.  This further adds to the complex layers of flavor found in this rich, ripe and beautifully balanced wine.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Color:  Bright, vibrant purple with a deep black core.

 

Aromatics:  Black cherry, sweet pipe tobacco and dark chocolate with hints of black pepper spice and cedar.

 

Palate:  Rich and mouth-filling with ripe flavors of cherry and dark chocolate with coffee, coconut and a slight dustiness of fine-grained tannins on the persistent finish.

 

Structure:  Acidity and tannin are in perfect balance with fine-grained tannins, richness and weight, and great persistence with a slight dustiness on the finish.

 

Food Pairings

 

Beran Napa Zinfandel is a great food wine that pairs perfectly with a big steak, roast lamb, pork short-ribs, paté or stinky cheese.

 

Winemakers

 

John Lopez                   Joseph Wagner

 

2012 BERAN NAPA VALLEY ZINFANDEL

 

The State of Zinfandel

 

Zinfandels that Embody the Spirit of California

 

We find extraordinary fruit growing in Sonoma County, Napa Valley, the desolate Sierra foothills of Amador County and other regions of California to make Zinfandels worthy of this grape’s long and illustrious history in the state.  Beran - The Bear - is forever a figure of strength and headstrong drive.  This same power and conviction stands behind our Zinfandels which we source and make without compromise.

 

Joseph Wagner

 

Owner/Winemaker

 

As a fifth generation Napa Valley winemaker and the youngest son of Chuck Wagner, founder of Caymus Vineyards, Joe learned his way around a vineyard long before he was able to drink wine.  By the time he was 19, he knew that he would continue his family’s winemaking legacy.  He started Belle Glos wines and then followed up with the creation of Meiomi.  In 2014, he took the big step of forming Copper Cane Wines & Provisions.  Joe and his wife Amber live in Napa Valley with their six children, keeping a healthy balance between family life and a passionate dedication to their shared business venture.

 

John Lopez

 

Winemaker/Director of Winemaking

 

John grew up in the Napa Valley, where he often spent time with his father who worked alongside the Wagner family, owners of Caymus Vineyards.  At first it seemed John’s career path would take him in a very different direction from winemaking as he studied criminal justice at Sacramento State and then went on to work at the Juvenile Probation Department in Napa County.  But eventually his heart’s true desire was laid bare.  He joined the Wagner family business where he quickly became assistant winemaker for Belle Glos, working closely with Joseph Wagner.  John is also a lover of Zin, which makes Beran a particularly fulfilling wine for him to make.