Winemaker Notes
Blend: 99% Zinfandel, 1% Alicante Bouschet
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Distinctive and full-bodied, yet balanced with lively acidity. Aromas of black cherry, smoky white pepper and underbrush lead to briary, complex flavors of black raspberry, sage and mocha that finish with zesty tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I did not taste the 2007 Zinfandel Rossi Ranch in 2008, but several months ago it was revealing lots of sweet berry fruit intertwined with hints of wild strawberries, pepper, incense, earth, and roasted herbs. Full-bodied with remarkable purity and freshness given the lofty alcohol content, it should drink well for a decade.
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.
Perhaps the most historically significant appellation in Sonoma County, the Sonoma Valley is home to both Buena Vista winery, California's oldest commercial winery, and Gundlach Bundschu winery, California's oldest family-run winery.
It is also one of the more geologically and climactically diverse districts. The valley includes and overlaps four distinct Sonoma County sub-appellations, including Carneros, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma Mountain and Bennett Valley. With mountains, benchlands, plains, abundant sunshine and the cooling effects of the nearby Pacific, this appellation can successfully produce a wide range of grape varieties. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, and most notably, Zinfandel all thrive here. Ancient Zinfandel vines over 100 years old produce small crops of concentrated, spicy fruit, which in turn make some of the Valley's most unique wines. These can also be made as “field blends” (wines made from a mix of grape varieties grown in the same vineyard) along with Petite Sirah, Carignan and Alicante Bouschet.