Tawny Sonoma is the fortified successor to our infamous Tawny Monga, derived from the juicy red grapes of our beloved home turf county. We harbored this wanton floozy in the convent of the barrel for 9 years, and then set her loose to haunt your dreams. She is a seductive temptress that will complement cheeses and chocolate-nut desserts, or just sip of her charms solo by the fire! After years of protesting that our usual Black Magic is NOT a PORT, here is proof of that pudding, an actual PORT made by adding high alcohol (brandy) to stop fermentation when only half the sugar was consumed by yeast—the high alcohol environment stops the yeasts in their tracks, allowing us to hold it in barrels for many years without risk of the ferment starting up again (fears that are very real with Black Magic’s lower alcohol). Those nine (yes, 9!) years in barrels made it super mellow and walnut-y, and a caramel-lover’s dream!

Winemaker Notes:

Caramello milk chocolate and toasted hazelnut, bit of classic walnut. Spicy dried fruit, like a holiday compote—apricot, raisin and cranberry. Very smooth and nicely structured, long creamy finish, not too sweet.

Fermentation Characteristics:

6 days on skins total, fortified with grape spirits after pressing.

Cellar Storage/Aging:

9 years in neutral barrels.

Varietal:

95% Zinfandel, 4% Carignane, 1% Petite Sirah

Appellation:

100% Sonoma County: 36% Florence Vyd, Rockpile 34% Peaceland Vyd, Fountaingrove Dist. 14% Mancini Vyd, RRV 16% mixed Sonoma County vineyards!

Release Date:

October 26, 2025