Paso Robles, CA (August 15, 2024)—Linne Calodo today introduced the 2022 vintage of its aptly named “Problem Child”—the latest chapter in the winery’s longtime love affair with Zinfandel-driven blends from Paso Robles.
The 2022 Problem Child Willow Creek District ($88) features dry-farmed Zinfandel (65%) blended with Carignan (14%), Mourvèdre (12%) and Syrah (9%)—a testament to how Owner-Winemaker Matt Trevisan uses different grape varieties to amplify Zinfandel’s native charm.
“Dry-farmed Zinfandel from the Willow Creek District tends to be ripe and high in acidity, which makes for this lively, delicious wine that can be made even better by a supporting cast of other grape varieties,” Trevisan said. “The goal is to make a wine that is unmistakably Zinfandel, but with the extra dimension and bass notes that can only come from blending.”
This has been the way of Linne Calodo since 1998, when Trevisan and his wife Maureen established Linne Calodo as a house of blends. Linne Calodo helped spark the Rhône-style blend movement that put Paso Robles on the global map. Concurrently, the winery championed Zinfandel-driven blends that reflect the heritage of the Paso Robles region, where Zinfandel has been a mainstay since the 1800s.
“There was a perception in California and the U.S. at the time that varietal wines were superior to blends,” Trevisan said. “But I also saw that a lot of varietal wines were being manipulated with acidulation, de-acidulation, aggressive fining and other change agents—that was how you made wine, by adjusting the chemistry to achieve a certain mouthfeel or structure. I figured that I could do better by blending.”
All in on Zin
The 2022 Problem Child comes from two Willow Creek District estates: Heaton Vineyard and Linne Calodo’s Stonethrower Vineyard. The Zinfandel comes from head-trained, dry-farmed vines grown in the classic Paso Robles tradition. The name “Problem Child” is a nod to the Zinfandel grape’s fickle nature, which requires patience both in the vineyard and in the cellar.
Trevisan’s fidelity to Paso Robles Zinfandel recently culminated in Linne Calodo’s acquisition of the historic Cherry Vineyard, a 2.5-acre dry-farmed Zinfandel site that yields just a half-ton of fruit per acre. The Zinfandel in Linne Calodo’s signature “Cherry Red” blend famously comes from this namesake vineyard.
Cherry Red dates back to Linne Calodo’s inaugural vintage of 1998, while the first release of Problem Child followed three years later in 2001. Both wines have always featured Zinfandel at the forefront with a fluid cast of supporting grapes.
Two of Trevisan’s go-to grapes for Zinfandel blending come from the Rhône side of the coin: “I look for Syrah and Mourvèdre to bring balance to this very exuberant wine. Syrah adds mid-body, while Mourvèdre brings an earthy character that cuts against the fruitiness and cinches it all together.”
Other varieties such as Carignan and Tempranillo may also find their way into these Zinfandel blends, depending on the vintage. “It’s more feel than formula,” Trevisan said. “Each year the Zinfandel tells us what it needs, and we blend accordingly.”
About Linne Calodo
Established in 1998 by Matt and Maureen Trevisan, Linne Calodo is a pioneering icon of Rhône-variety blends and Zinfandel-based wines from Paso Robles. The winery is named after the calcareous Linne Calodo soils found at the estate vineyard in the westside Willow Creek District. Winemaker Matt Trevisan subscribes to a “nature-positive” farming ethos that emphasizes biodiversity, native lifeforms and species coexistence for the sake of creating responsibly grown, vineyard-centric wines. Visit the secluded Linne Calodo tasting room at the corner of Highway 46 West and Vineyard Drive, situated adjacent to the working winery and estate vineyard. See LinneCalodo.com.
