Winemaker Notes
The 2016 Keenan Zinfandel shows intense black cherry and raspberry fruit in the nose, while hints of black pepper and vanilla add complexity. This is a rich, full-bodied Zinfandel that will accompany a wide array of foods, but we suggest gamey meats, grilled as a great match for the Keenan Zin.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Michael Keenan farms zinfandel vines on an east-facing slope high up Spring Mountain that provide 80 percent of this wine (the parcels include five percent alicante and carignane). The balance comes from a vineyard Peter Nissen tends in Calistoga, where the vines are 70 years old. The combination yields a wine with intense dark fruit—it has the perfume of black cherries as their skins are just coming into ripeness. The minerally tannins are earthy, with a cola-like spice; their reduction seems to be tied to the site’s volcanic soils. It’s a wine with power and grace, built to age ten years or more.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.