Winemaker Notes
This flagship Zin doesn't disappoint its long standing reputation. Quintessential of the Dante Dusi Vineyard the brambleberry beat is unmistakable. Those who are familiar with this vineyard could pick this wine out of line up (probably blind folded). Recognizable dark berries and bittersweet chocolate at first glance. Its ample mid palate is laced with black currant, plum and pomegranate. Its finish is reminiscent of a long country road bringing the earth and spice home.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Deep ruby hue. Concentrated sweet ripe black fruit aromas, reminiscent of bramble-picking from hedgerows, with an undercurrent of leaf and briar. The palate is equally brimming with freshly picked fruit: blue, red and dark berry flavours but also an impressive concentration of mineral earth – almost a ferrous quality that elevates the wine to a much more profound liquid. Tannins are densely woven but supple, the alcohol brings sucrosity rather than heat, and is held in check by a fresh seam of acidity. Very complete wine. The finish is long and highly flavoured, and when the flavours finally fade, you’re still left with a sensation of elegant power. A wine that will age beautifully for a decade or more.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby, the 2019 Zinfandel Dante Dusi Vineyard has a nose of red berry fruit with touches of apricot and wildflowers. The medium-bodied palate is soft, bright and juicy with floral flavors and a spicy 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.
Pacific ocean breezes enter through the gap for which it is named. The Templeton Gap District is characterized by cooler days and nights and is made of broad alluvial terraces with vineyards at elevations of 700 to 1,800 feet.