Winemaker Notes
This is a big wine. It has rich mouthfeel and earthy, spicy flavors of black cherry, plum, black pepper, apricot and chocolate. The spicy finish really comes through as the wine sits in the glass with additional nuances of brown sugar and warm spices. Food Pairing: Grilled meats, roasted poultry, stews, Italian dishes and hard cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Everyone on our panel agreed: This is a pretty great $20 wine. It has layers of flavor detail, from wild strawberry and wild cherry to eucalyptus and bay. It’s fresh and juicy, delivering a tight, compact zin with immediate appeal. This offers a lot of pleasure for summer drinking, with anything off the grill. Best Buy
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.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.