Titus Zinfandel 2016 | Under the Radar Napa Zin from 100pt Winemakers 

Titus Zinfandel 2016 presents a deep, brooding purple color. With an intensely ripe nose of boysenberry, blueberry, and blackberry fruits.  Complemented by hints of pepper, vanilla, clove, and bramble. Full-bodied and concentrated.  With ripe black cherry and blueberry flavors at its core.  While supported by chewy tannins, leaving notes of sweet spice, cracked pepper, and vanilla lingering on the finish.  And of course excellent concentration and depth, that will please lovers of full-bodied Zinfandel or Syrah.

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Winery | Titus Zinfandel 2016 has beautiful aromas of strawberry soda, red licorice, five spice, and molasses.  While the flavors remind the senses of candied cherry, autumn spice, cracked pepper, and horehound.  With a refreshing mouthfeel making it an excellent wine for enjoying anytime or with your favorite grilled meats.   The wine exemplifies the concentration and grace with our old Zinfandel vines, of which were planted in 1977.  Enjoy this wine upon release through 2030 and beyond.

The Brothers Eric & Phil Titus

So the Titus brothers are a force to be reckoned with in Napa Valley. This year marks their 50th anniversary of farming in the valley, but our favorite thing to do with the Titus brothers is drinking wine.

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The wine we tasted was Phil’s under-the-radar Titus Zinfandel 2016.  Marrying the concentration of Contra Costa County (think Matt Cline’s Three Wine Co.) with the complexity of Sonoma Zins (like Ridge or Martinelli).  While Titus Zinfandel 2016 owes its deep-berry concentration to a patch of 40-year-old Zinfandel vines that Titus and his brother Eric planted along the Silverado Trail just north of St. Helena.

Winemaker Stephen Cruzan

In 2009, he joined the team at Chappellet Winery under Phillip Titus. Working closely with Phillip, Stephen moved up the ladder from Cellar Hand to Enologist.  And had the chance to meet Phillip’s brother Eric Titus as well.  Under Philip’s program, he focused on modern winemaking.  Hence getting the optimal expression from the grapes and mid-palate texture.

With the advent of a new winery for Titus Vineyards in 2015, the Titus brothers reached out to Stephen to take the reins on their new facility. While he made the most of his opportunity to work with Phillip and Eric.  And once again and is crafting expressive wines off of the family’s estate vineyards and select vineyard sites in Napa Valley.