Winemaker Notes
Vibrant ruby red in color, the 2022 Paul Dolan Zinfandel opens with enticing aromas of strawberry preserve, fig, and vanilla, accented by spicier notes of nutmeg and cinnamon. On the palate, rich flavors of black cherry, red currant, and dark chocolate mingle with a kiss of caramel and holiday spice. Graceful tannins provide structure and balance, blending seamlessly with the wines juicy mouthfeel to culminate in a bright, tantalizing finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine offers youthful fruit. Cranberry-pomegranate, Red Vines candy and allspice interweave with nutmeg. For pairings, think sweet-sour dishes of the world, like Five Spice pork loin.
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 large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.