Winemaker Notes
Aromas of blackberry, raspberry, bramble, cocoa leaf & wet stones. Flavors of strawberry, black pepper, blueberry pie crust & wet stones. Mouth feel is opulent, structured, chewy tannin, long finish with laser-focused acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Zinfandel Russian River Estate is another gorgeous wine from this estate. Plums, sandalwood, Asian spices, and a hint of cigar all flow to a seamless, elegant Zinfandel that shows the class and quality of this vintage. With medium to full-bodied richness and building, fine tannin, it has complexity, texture, and length. Bravo
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Wine Spectator
A racy red, with a deep structure and vibrant red plum, cherry and smoky cracked pepper flavors that build toward big but refined tannins. Drink now through 2025.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Limerick Lane is a winery that the wine pros like immensely. My palate gets excited whenever these wines are on the tasting program. The 2016 Russian River Valley Zinfandel is delicious. TASTING NOTES: This wine is rock solid from start to finish. Its aromas of ripe berries would pair well with barbecued baby back pork ribs. (Tasted: August 20, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Zinfandel Estate reveals a vivacious nose of warm redcurrants, black cherries and blackberry preserves with touches of Chinese five spice, forest floor, fertile loam and potpourri. Big, rich and full-bodied with a firm frame of chewy tannins and a lively acid line, it finishes very long and very spicy.
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.