Winemaker Notes
This wine opens with aromas of blackberry, dark cherry, lead pencil, and underbrush, leading to flavors of cherry, strawberry, and wet stone. The mouthfeel is broad and chewy, with a fresh character and a lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2020 Limerick Lane Russian River Valley Zinfandel is packed yet lively and bright on the palate; Enjoy its aromas and flavors of red berries and blueberries with baked lamb chops and saffron rice. (Tasted: January 28, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Zinfandel is aromatic of sweet plum, rocky earth, and pine. The palate is dry, with a medium build and notes of red raspberry and cocoa powder.
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.