100% Zinfandel sourced from just the 135 year old block. 98 Cases Produced.
These incredibly unique vines may only yield a small amount of grapes, but what they do yield is unlike anything in existence in Napa Valley. This elegant expression of Zinfandel spends two years in new French oak and another year in the bottle before it is released. On the nose, cloves, blackberries, allspice and plums with hints of sweet vanilla. Persiminons, figs and brambly black fruit dominate the palate. The rich and full bodied mouth feel gives way to an elegant tannin structure and a long, smooth finish.
Made exclusively from our ancestral 135 year old vines, the Reserve Zinfandel is the pinnacle of what can be done with this varietal if it is treated with the utmost respect. So we make this wine exactly like we make our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Open top, barrel fermented and aged in 100% new French oak. These century old vines do not yield much, but what they do produce makes an extraordinary bottle of wine.
Canard Vineyard has been creating hand-crafted wines in Napa Valley since 1984. Each year we produce nine single vineyard wines, each one expressing the remarkable complexities of our estate's unique terroir. Our wines are produced from sustainably grown, dry farmed grapes, which are skillfully transformed into the finest expression of each varietal. We are dedicated to creating wines of distinction with an emphasis on quality over quantity.
Situated on the Northwest corner of Dunaweal Lane and the Silverado Trail in Calistoga, the twenty-five acre property is considered a historic vineyard in Napa Valley. The estate was the original homestead of Reason P. Tucker, who gained notoriety for leading the efforts to rescue the survivors of the ill-fated Donnor Party.
The residence at Canard was built in 1859 and quickly became the center of social activity in the area during the late 1800’s. Zinfandel was planted over 135 years ago and remarkably those dry farmed vines still stand, yielding a small quantity of incredibly elegant fruit, which goes into our highly coveted Estate and Estate Reserve Zinfandel. Over the years, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and, of course Cabernet Sauvignon were planted and have been meticulously cared for using painstaking but extremely effective vineyard practices. Creating wine at this level demands a great deal of discernment and sacrifice and most of it takes place in the vineyard. The result is the culmination of what man and nature can do when they work together in harmony.
Rich and Carolyn Czapleski searched for what seemed like an eternity for the perfect vineyard with the climate and soil to grow the red varietals they needed for a world class wine. This quest finally came to an end in 1983 when they purchased what is now Canard Vineyard. Over the years, Carolyn, a master gardener and interior designer, transformed the historic home and surrounding grounds into something magical.
Rich immediately got his hands dirty and tended to the vines. As a true gentleman farmer his philosophy was simple; “If you take care of the vines, the vines will take care of you.” He has spent the last thirty-seven years doing exactly that, but also allowing the natural terroir to influence the distinctive characteristics of the wine. With the help of managing director Adam Fox, winemaker Brian Graham and their son Adam, Rich and Carolyn have assembled a small but talented team who share their desire to make the finest wines possible, while maintaining great integrity and respect for the land.
