If the estate's single-vineyard bottlings are a study in place, the Marquis is a study in the art of the blend. Winemaker Chris Pittenger assembles it from Limerick Lane's full roster of historic vineyard partners -- including Limerick Lane estate fruit, Banfield, Bedrock, Maffei, and Monte Rosso -- with the stated goal of producing the most complete old-vine Zinfandel expression possible in any given year. The result is complex without being showy: a wine that brings together the structural precision of Monte Rosso, the mid-palate richness of Maffei, and the bright natural acidity of Banfield into something cohesive and, frankly, difficult to put down.
Quick Facts
- Appellation: Russian River Valley / Sonoma County
- Varietal: Zinfandel (multi-vineyard blend)
- Producer: Limerick Lane Cellars, Healdsburg, CA
- Winemaker: Chris Pittenger
- Farming: Old-vine, head-trained, dry-farmed vineyards
Tasting Profile
- Aroma: Blackberry, dark cherry, violets, baking spice, subtle underbrush
- Body: Medium to full, plush and seamless
- Fruit: Bright red and dark berry fruit with excellent purity and focus
- Oak: Restrained; vanilla and sweet spice in support, not in the foreground
- Texture: Polished, velvety tannins with mouthwatering acidity
- Finish: Broad and lingering with fine, well-integrated structure
Why We Love It
The Marquis occupies a distinct place in the Limerick Lane lineup -- above the entry Russian River Valley blend in ambition and complexity, but more complete and approachable than the high-intensity single-block bottlings. That middle ground is where a lot of great Zinfandel lives, and Pittenger navigates it exceptionally well here. What stands out is the purity of fruit: this doesn't taste like a wine trying to impress you with extraction or power. It tastes like old vines doing what only old vines can do -- concentrating flavor without concentrating noise. Critics who have tasted through the full Limerick Lane lineup consistently single out the Marquis alongside the Monte Rosso as the two wines that stay with you longest.
Winemaking
Chris Pittenger came to Limerick Lane from a background shaped by Burgundy, the Northern Rhône, and a decade at Skinner Vineyards working with Mourvèdre and Grenache -- and those influences show in how he handles Zinfandel. He ferments primarily in open-top tanks using neutral French oak, a Pinot Noir-inspired approach that prioritizes freshness and transparency over extraction. The Marquis is assembled from the best lots of each vineyard source, with the specific composition shifting vintage to vintage to reflect what the year produced best. In 2022 -- a harvest Pittenger described as arriving in three distinct waves -- the Maffei Vineyard fruit was particularly impressive, and its silky, plush character is evident throughout the blend.
Serving and Pairing
Decant 20-30 minutes before serving. Best at 62-65°F. The Marquis's balance of fruit, spice, and acidity makes it genuinely versatile at the table. Braised lamb, wood-roasted chicken, pasta with hearty meat ragù, aged Manchego, and charcuterie all work beautifully. Equally rewarding without food.
Drinking Window
Drinking well now. Best 2024-2029. The multi-vineyard structure gives this wine excellent balance and modest aging potential -- the tannins are refined enough to evolve gracefully but approachable enough to enjoy immediately.
Estate Overview
Limerick Lane is a 53-acre estate at the northeastern edge of Sonoma County's Russian River Valley, where the appellation meets warmer hillside conditions that shelter the site from the full influence of the marine layer. The estate's oldest vines date to 1910 -- head-trained, dry-farmed, and organically tended -- and are recognized as among the most historically significant Zinfandel plantings in California. Owner Karen Francis DeGolia returned to the property in 2022 after nearly three decades away, bringing full-circle a personal story that began at Limerick Lane in the early 1990s. Under winemaker Chris Pittenger, the estate has earned recognition as a collective group of the highest-scoring Zinfandel wines from any California producer.
