Joe Martin established St. Francis Vineyard in 1971, planting 22 acres of Chardonnay and the first 60 acres of Merlot in Sonoma Valley. After achieving great success as a grower, Joe opened his own St. Francis Winery in 1979 with his business partner Lloyd Canton. Katie Madigan is the winemaker who oversees the Zinfandel program.
Sourced from a number of family owned Sonoma County vineyards with vines that are 60-110 years of age.
Purple in color. 14.9% ABV. Savory nose of black fruits, plums and flowers. Full bodied with ample acidity. Dark, rich and plush. Black cherry, blackberry, anise and earth on the palate. The finish is long and supple. Appealing and easy to drink but lacking the concentration and acidity to be truly special. Best over the next several years.
My rating: 90 points.
The wine is widely available and should be a go to in the sub $25 Zinfandel category.