Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Zinfandel Piner-Olivet Ranches is from Russian River sites and is 91% Zinfandel and the rest a mix of varieties. As with most of Mike’s wines, it was brought up mostly in neutral barrels and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Outstanding notes of cassis, spice box, plums, earth, and violets all give way to a plump, seamless blend that has lots of ripeness as well as charm. It's balanced and already drinking nicely yet should evolve gracefully. This beauty has a distinctly umami character that keeps you coming back to the glass.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Zinfandel Piner-Olivet Ranches has intense notes of raspberry preserves, kirsch, black cherries and blood orange with wafts of sandalwood and Indian spices plus a hint of underbrush. Very big, rich and full, it is completely packed with red and black fruit preserves flavors, with a lovely velvety texture and great freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
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Wine Spectator
Expressive and zesty, yet refined, with floral raspberry and blueberry flavors accented by spicy cinnamon, licorice and stony mineral notes. Drink now through 2024.
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 standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.