Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Zin is one for the ages. Tremendous aromatic intensity, yes, but it is the cool, calm and polished flavors that excite. Fine young, but it is the aging potential of this wine that is truly special.
Blend: 82% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 4% Carignane
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Close your eyes, smell this wine, and you might think you’ve moved from Rutherford to Morgon. This wine has the kind of youthful impact of a great cru Beaujolais, then it settles into the plump richness of Napa Valley zin. Its mineral-driven tannins ground all the bright and zesty fruit, holding it tight, suggesting this has years of development ahead. A zin to hold. Best Buy
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.