Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend

About this product
The 2021 Apothic Red is a rich Zinfandel-led Red blend with red silky, smooth layers of black cherry, boysenberry and black pepper. Syrah and Merlot add intriguing notes of ripe blueberry and boysenberry, while a mix of other red varieties add dimension and depth with hints of spice. Soft and plush on the palate, the long finish brings vanilla and mocha characteristics, a reflection of the selective oak aging used to enhance and support the wine’s elegant appeal.

Viticulture Notes
We selected the majority of the grapes for Apothic Red from the Lodi and Central Valley areas in California. We sourced the Zinfandel from Lodi, a premium producer of intensely concentrated, silky textured fruit. California’s 2021 growing season was cool and mild, excellent conditions for developing mature, layered fruit. A heat spell in August resulted in an earlier than average harvest. Wines from this vintage showcase vibrant acidity and concentrated flavors.

Winemaking Notes
Red was our first Apothic release: a daringly bold and original blend of California-grown red grapes that created a phenomenon. Grapes for 2021 Apothic Red were de-stemmed, with a portion selected for whole-cluster fermentation. We fermented the wine for five to seven days in a combination of cone-sweep and upright tanks at a temperature averaging 85-88°F. Across all lots, we exercised meticulous temperature control to maximize the extraction of color and dark fruit notes.