Winemaker Notes
A whole chicken, roasted with plenty of rosemary, thyme, salt and garlic, would be a delicious pairing with this wine, as would pasta with sundried tomatoes, capers, anchovies and herbs—dishes high on flavor but moderate in fat.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine & Spirits
The Hendry family farms zinfandel at their ranch west of the city of Napa, including these two blocks planted with clone 2, one in 1975, the other in 1995. Aged in French oak (about one-third new), the 2014 is rich and finely integrated, a dark-fruited zin with savory mineral notes. It’s brightened by warm spice in the finish, lasting on a clean line. (1,741 cases)
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.