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
Smoothly integrated, complex and structured, this impressive wine is dry, leathery and gamy. Brooding blackberry and black-cherry flavors get a boost of complexity in the form of peppery spice: a mix of white pepper, nutmeg and clove.
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Wine & Spirits
Adrian Manspeaker blends this wine from three sites—Dutcher Crossing (60 percent), Grist and Raymond Burr. Fermented with ambient yeasts and aged for 18 months in François Frères and Rousseau barrels (25 percent new), its gentle and bright layers of red fruit and herbs gain depth and complexity with air. The wine has sunny freshness and clarity to its full-on flavors—Berkshire sommelier Michael Kowalski found it “rich enough for a ribeye with Béarnaise sauce.”
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.