Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The Russian River 2015 Zinfandel Sweetwater Springs Vineyard gives up a big, boisterous bouquet of black raspberries, plums, Asian spices, cured meats, and cedar. Just screaming Zinfandel at the top of its lungs, it has medium to full body, a rounded, fleshy mid-palate, and loads of charm. It's going to drink nicely for upwards of a decade.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Zinfandel Sweetwater Springs Vineyard is medium to deep garnet-purple with a nose of prunes, fruitcake and spice box with hints of dried flowers, hoisin, smoked meats and leather. Full-bodied, concentrated and with a tart line cutting through the dense dried-berry flavors, it offers a firm, chewy frame and great length.
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Wine Spectator
Polished and well-built, with expressive huckleberry and garrigue aromas and layered blueberry, orange zest and pepper flavors. Drink now through 2023.
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.