Deep purple-black color; black fruits, black berry, black plum, blueberry, dried cranberry, bittersweet chocolate, violets on the nose and palate.
Dry (0.4 g/L RS); grippy tannins, decanting leaves it more integrated and approachable. Impressive acidity for petite sirah (3.55 pH; 6.2 g/L TA). Full body, velvety and smooth in the mouth, especially after decanting. Grapes are 100% petite sirah harvested from single, certified sustainable vineyard. The 2020 vintage was a testing one. Covid-19 restrictions, variable weather—erratic rains and temperatures, threat of smoke and fires in late summer. High altitude smoke may have moderated temperatures in August and September. Poor fruit set because of the early tribulations meant less fruit, but more concentrated flavors and aromas. Standard fermentation in stainless steel with a twist of aging 14 months in neutral American oak to soften the wine without imparting significant oak influence. 14.5% ABV
The One Hundred Acre Vineyard is located in the Jahant AVA of the larger Lodi AVA. Jahant is the smallest of Lodi’s seven AVAs. The One Hundred Acre Vineyard was planted in 2015; the petite sirah block is 49.2 acres of the total of 98.53 planted acres. Variations in soil and elevation prompts LandeTwins to farm zones individually, with the goal of a uniform vineyard and balanced wine.
The Lange family has farmed in Lodi since the 1870s, growing wheat and watermelons. In the 1970s they started growing fruit for Woodbridge, working directly with Robert Mondavi. Identical twins Randy and Bradford Lange built a winery to make wine from their vineyards in 2005. The twins and their families consider themselves “guardians” over more than 67 vineyards in four of Lodi’s distinct sub-appellations and the Clarksburg appellation. The family is passionate about sustainability, both in the vineyard and maintaining their family-focus on passing their land legacy generation to generation. They received the Leopold Conservation Award in 2006, BRIT’s International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing in 2014, and were named California Association of Winegrape Growers Grower of the Year in 2017.
The family farm is in Jahant, north of Woodbridge. They have worked to restore natural habitats, including an on-site lake that is home to a wealth of birds, frogs, reptiles, and other wildlife. Today, the twin’s children run the operation. Not only have generations of Langes worked the land, there are third generations of families who have worked with the Lange twins and their children. They note: “We are generational. We do think generationally. We farm generationally. When my grandchildren are here, we go on walks. I think of my great-grandchildren and what they will do.”
LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards One Hundred Vineyard Petite Sirah, Jahant, Lodi 2020 is rich, delicious wine showcasing dark fruits with good acidity and minimal oak influence. Grippy tannins nicely softened with decanting. Made by German-American family that has farmed in Lodi since the 1870s. While sold in some stories and online, direct contact with the winery is surest way to obtain this wine. $34-38
Pairing—grilled and barbecued meats; high tannins cut through fatty meats. Ribeye steak, chuck eye, ribeye cap steak, New York strip, top sirloin; baby back ribs, prime rib, venison, tandoori lamb kebabs, Mongolian barbecue. Rich pasta dishes with tomato-based sauces. Meat lovers pizza. Cheese—aged gouda; blue cheese—gorgonzola, stilton; camembert, swiss, fresh mozzarella, smoke gouda, manchego.
