Winemaker Notes
Blend: 89% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Teroldego
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Flavors of crayon wax, vanilla bean and dark cherry appear on the palate along a continuum of tight, firm tannins. This is a thick, powerful wine that is given extra lift by a fresh citrus tug on the midpalate, providing a breath of refreshment.
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Wine Spectator
Blended of 89% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah and 4% Teroldego and aged in French and American oak, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Zinfandel bursts from the glass with baked raspberries, redcurrant jelly and Black Forest cake notes with hints of tree bark, cracked pepper and Indian spices plus a waft of potpourri. Full-bodied, rich, velvety and wonderfully spicy in the mouth, it gives up loads of earthy layers on the long finish.
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.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.