94 Points -
"A deeper ruby/magenta color, there’s more Petite Sirah in the field blend for the 2023 Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard, which has darker, more intense notes of cigar box, blackberries, cherry preserve, dark spices, lavender, and mossy forest earth. The palate is full-bodied, with ripe tannins, even acidity, and a broader feel on the finish. It has a deeper tannin structure and a bit more richness of earth and grip on the finish, with a slightly more rustic feel to its structure, but it’s well-balanced and can handle richer marbled steak and braised meat " - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com, July 2025
Tasting Notes
The 2023 Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard Zinfandel shows concentrated blackberry, black cherry, and anise aromas and flavors, along with black tea and silky chocolate notes on the finish. This vineyard consistently produces wines that are dense and concentrated with texture and power.
Historic Acclaim
2022: 96 Points, L.P-B, The Wine Independent, April 2024
2021: 94 Points, A.F., jebdunnuck.com, July 2023
2021: 93 Points, T.F., Wine Spectator, June 2023
2019: 96 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2019: 94 points, E.B., Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2019: 94 points, V.B., Wine Enthusiast
2018: 95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2018: 95 points,L.P.-B., Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2017: 94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2017: 94 points,L.P.-B., Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2016: 95 points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
2015: 95 points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
2014: 98 points, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
2014: 95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2013: 95 points, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
2013: 95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2012: 92 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
2011: 91+ points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
2011: 91 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
2010: 92 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
2009: 95 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
2009: 93 points, The Wine Spectator
2008: 95 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
2006: 94 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
2005: 92 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Spectator
2004: 94 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
2003: 90 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
2000: 93 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
Vineyard & Vintage Character
The 100+ year old Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard is located on seven acres along a slight rise off Wood Road in the Russian River Valley AVA of Sonoma County. It is dry-farmed and has been hand-tended by the Fanucchi family for over 40 years. The vineyard is head trained, but Peter Fanucchi raised the gnarled old vines from just above ground level to chest height. This modification seems to provide greater sun exposure and air circulation and to have reinvigorated the old vines, enhancing the production of high-quality, old-vine fruit.
The soils on Wood Road are sandy loam of relatively low pH and fertility. Old vines on these soils produce small Zinfandel berries with bright, concentrated cherry and blackberry fruit flavors. At optimum ripeness, the fruit makes a big, intense, long-lived Zinfandel of unique personality.
Wine Details
Oak: 100% French oak, 54% new
Time in oak: 9 months
Alcohol: 15.5%
TA: 6.4 g/L
pH: 3.37
Cases produced: 242
Yeast: Native
Unfined and unfiltered