Winemaker Notes
The rich, volcanic soils provide the base for the incredible concentration of flavor that the grapes from the Grist Vineyard showcase in the glass. We find this wine to be where power and elegance meet--a special offering of delicious bramble fruits, spicy aromas, and a full mouthfeel that is sure to please. A wine that beckons with aromas of tart cranberry, candied raspberry, baked cherry pie, candied orange peel, cured salami, clove, tingling wormwood, and hints of Chartreuse spices. The palate is equally alluring, with a lighter bodied mouthfeel and grippy tannins headlined by flavors of orange blossom, black raspberry, fresh cranberry, dried leather, and alfalfa. A true Pinot lovers Zinfandel.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Tart, tannic, youthful and powerful, this balanced red wine offers understated elegance and delicate texture, its fruit defined in sanguine currant and plum. Sleek and soft on the palate, it leads to an integrated finish of baking spice, toasted oak and leather.
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Wine & Spirits
From a vineyard on Bradford Mountain planted in 1974, this is a savory zin with woodland scents and tannins with the spice of flower petals and a rocket-green bite. The texture turns silky with a day of air, the bright fruit needing bottle age to come forward.
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 multifaceted and highly reputable sub-region of Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley is responsible for a wide range of wine styles—both red and white. One of the smallest AVAs in California, Dry Creek Valley has a winning combination of ideal geography and climate. Fertile, well-drained soils create concentrated varietal character while long, warm days, bookended by cool nights, allow grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness and balance. The warm and welcoming appellation is home to a number of family-owned vineyards and wineries that place a strong emphasis on sustainable farming practices.
Zinfandel reigns supreme here and still produces in a great number of very old vineyards—often 100 years old or older. These old vines create a powerful, voluptuous and sultry wine unlike those of any other region. Sauvignon Blanc, the valley’s signature white grape, also performs exceptionally well. Many other varieties grow comfortably here, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah. Petite Sirah is often found in blends with Zinfandel.