Winemaker Notes
A black/blue color that fills the glass from center to the rim. Aromas of white flowers, violets, lavender and blackberries/raspberries and freshly baked pie crust. On the palate this wine is soft and elegant with a touch of savory notes that intermingle with the freshly bake blackberry pie filling and hints of vanilla bean that caress across the palate to a satiny finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Fruity, floral and spicy in nose and flavor, this had time to age in both new French oak and concrete. Robust, powerful layers of powerful black fruit benefit from complex characteristics of white pepper and lavender with an unforgettable perfume tenacious in its intensity.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Very deep ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Zinfandel Landy Sweetwater Springs Vineyard Isabel has a wonderful, gregarious nose of peach jam and powdered sugar over a core of warm red berry preserves, candied boysenberry and blueberry—I love the tricolored fruit layers here. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with warm red, blue and black fruits accented by chocolaty notes, with very fine, grainy tannins and a long, warm fruit finish. This is a huge expression of Zinfandel and I love it.
Rating: 92+ -
Connoisseurs' Guide
Full-on ripeness and generous aromas and flavors lift this deep, full-bodied, extracted wine into the top tiers but then run right up to the borders of excess, and only the pure, focused fruit holds it back from going over the line. Some are going to find this to be their favorite of the bunch for sheer size and volume, of which there is plenty here, while others may opt for the slightly less outsized aspects of others amongst the Cohn Zinfandel universe. Fans of the style, rejoice. There are few holds barred here.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Sweet plums, blueberries, and wild strawberry notes all emerge from the 2016 Zinfandel Sweetwater Springs Vineyard and it has plenty of classic Zinfandel spice and brambly herb notes. A fleshy, exuberant texture, ripe yet pure fruit, silky tannins, and a great finish all make for a terrific Zinfandel to enjoy over the coming decade.
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Wine Spectator
Jammy and loaded with fruit, offering vibrant cherry and blueberry flavors accented by toasted spice and smoky sage 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.