The Federalist
The Federalist is a Californian wine brand from the Terlato Wine Group. The range includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, in a style built around ripe fruit, full flavour and an approachable structure. Many of the wines come from Lodi, an important wine region in California. Its Mediterranean climate combines warm, dry summers with cooling air from the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. The warmth helps the grapes ripen, while the cooling Delta Breeze helps preserve their freshness. According to the current producer's fact sheet, the Pinot Noir comes from the Central Coast. In the cellar, different vineyard plots are fermented separately, so that each keeps its own character and the winemaker can blend with precision. Oak ageing plays an important role: the Cabernet Sauvignon is aged for 15 months in oak, 35% of it new. For the Chardonnay, malolactic fermentation and ageing on the fine lees give a creamy texture.