Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2018
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Winemaker Notes
Our 2018 Dry Creek Zinfandel has a nose of black cherry, molasses dripped over coffee cake crumbs and intriguing dried-herb and earth tones. Fruit is prominent on the palate, then surrenders to lingering savory and mineral notes. Enjoy for the next 7-10 years.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This exuberant, complex red is made from a mix of estate vineyards as well as grower sites, like Treborce and Montecillo. While it is concentrated in black cherry, its soul leans more savory and herbal to display an understated elegance.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Mauritson Zinfandel is well-built and generous from start to finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings a bushel-load of berries to the table. Enjoy its explosive aromas and flavors of boysenberries, savory spices, and dried earth notes with grilled short ribs. (Tasted: July 6, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley contains 6% Petite Sirah. Medium ruby-purple, it has a nose of bright red fruits with nuances of burnt orange peel, earth and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, this entry-level Zinfandel is bright and lifted in the mouth with spicy stone-fruit character, a soft frame and long, juicy finish. Drink it over the next three to five years.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the reds, the 2018 Zinfandel Mauritson is 94% Zinfandel and 6% Petite Sirah, all from the Dry Creek Valley. Aged 14 months in French oak, its ruby/plum color is followed by a spicy, complex Zinfandel that has lots of red and black fruits, sandalwood, and incense aromas and flavors. Drink this nicely balanced, character-filled, impeccably made Zin any time over the coming 4-5 years.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
A bit of root-beer-like sweetness overlies concentrated, fairly deep, ripe berry fruit in this one’s immediately inviting nose, and, with a swirl or two in the glass, subtle elements of dusty soil and dried mushrooms join in to make for a fairly complex and fascinating aromatic mix. On the palate, the wine is full and substantial with integral tannins providing ageworthy grip, and its slight youthful toughness and scant finishing heat do next to nothing to distract from the unceasing, definitively varietal fruit that at every point defines what is a solidly structured and very specific Zinfandel.
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Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
A multifaceted and highly reputable sub-region of Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley is responsible for a wide range of wine styles—both red and white. One of the smallest AVAs in California, Dry Creek Valley has a winning combination of ideal geography and climate. Fertile, well-drained soils create concentrated varietal character while long, warm days, bookended by cool nights, allow grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness and balance. The warm and welcoming appellation is home to a number of family-owned vineyards and wineries that place a strong emphasis on sustainable farming practices.
Zinfandel reigns supreme here and still produces in a great number of very old vineyards—often 100 years old or older. These old vines create a powerful, voluptuous and sultry wine unlike those of any other region. Sauvignon Blanc, the valley’s signature white grape, also performs exceptionally well. Many other varieties grow comfortably here, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah. Petite Sirah is often found in blends with Zinfandel.