ORW Old Soul Zinfandel ‘23

From the iron-rich clay soils of Volnay's most muscular Premier Cru, this Pinot Noir is a study in controlled power. Opaque ruby with violet reflections, it offers a nose of macerated black cherries, violets, and a distinctive crushed graphite minerality—hallmarks of Santenots' terroir. The palate is dense yet refined, with flavors of blackberry compote, dark chocolate, and tannins that Wine Advocate (95 pts) describes as "velvet fists in iron gloves." Aged 18 months in 30% new Damy barrels, the 2020 vintage's perfect ripeness (harvested August 28th at 13.9% alcohol) gives this wine both approachability and cellaring potential through 2040. Decant 2 hours for herb-crusted rack of lamb or wild boar ragù, or tuck away for future milestones.