Winemaker Notes
Grown in high-elevation vineyards overlooking the Russian River where vineyards ripen evenly and fully. Grapes are sourced from both Ukiah Valley and Redwood Valley. Paul Dolan Vineyards Zinfandel is a lively, concentrated wine tasting of blackberry jam, orange marmalade and a dashing accent of cracked black pepper. Always Certified Organically Grown – California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Made from organically grown grapes sourced from high-elevation vineyards overlooking the Russian River in this Northern California AVA, this stunning Zin offers up blackberry compote and orange zest, while a thread of black pepper winds its way around dusty plum on the finish.
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Wine & Spirits
Grown organically on hillsides above the Russian River, this is everything you'd hope to get in an inexpensive Mendocino zinfandel (or an expensive one, for that matter). It smells a bit jammy but turns out to be deliciously spicy and brambly, its lush blue fruit taking on a vibrant, floral-tinged length. It's a ripe, sunny wine that's hard not to love.
Best Buy
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.