Winemaker Notes
The Mother Clone is a classic Dry Creek Zinfandel with aromas of ripe red berries with a touch of cinnamon and white pepper. Jammy berry and cherry flavors combine with vanilla, licorice, and baking spice. The dynamic berry-spice combination brings together round tannins and a zesty finish which are a hallmark of Pedroncelli's style.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
A hearty and ripe yet elegant style with rich notes of mocha, a slathering of blackberry reduction, and a creamy licorice finish
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James Suckling
Notes of ripe blackberries and blueberry jam with dark spices and flowers. Full body. Mellow and sleek with dark berry succulence and hints of bitter spices. Lengthy finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Smooth, deep and rich, this luxurious, high-octane wine is saturated with ripe berries, blueberries and milk-chocolate flavors wrapped in moderate, melted tannins that lend a plush mouthfeel. The winemaker used 9% Petite Sirah and aged this wine in partially new American oak barrels.
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Wine & Spirits
Focused on three generations of zinfandel, traced back to the vines planted in the early 1900s, farmed by the Pedroncelli family since 1927, this also includes fruit from the Bushnell and Giovannoni vineyards. There’s youthful power to this zin, firmly structured even as notes of chocolate nibs show its heavy drape of oak. James Conley of Keen’s Steakhouse described it as “a leafy zin, a wine with some excitement.”
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2020 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel is rich yet lifted on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of fresh tilled dirt, brambleberries, earth, and tar. Enjoy it with dry-rubbed, grilled pork ribs.
Pedroncelli - Dry Creek Valley’s Benchmark Estate Winery.
Since 1927, the Pedroncelli Winery family has made wines from Dry Creek Valley that reflect place, climate, and craft. Four generations on, the legacy continues, pairing each varietal with its ideal site across 100 estate acres. A leader in Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc, Pedroncelli champions these signature varietals as benchmarks of the estate and region. Guided by decades of experience and rooted in tradition, Pedroncelli crafts balanced, regionally expressive wines in a distinct house style made for food and the table. Thoughtfully produced and sustainably farmed to carry the legacy forward.
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 multifaceted and highly reputable sub-region of Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley is responsible for a wide range of wine styles—both red and white. One of the smallest AVAs in California, Dry Creek Valley has a winning combination of ideal geography and climate. Fertile, well-drained soils create concentrated varietal character while long, warm days, bookended by cool nights, allow grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness and balance. The warm and welcoming appellation is home to a number of family-owned vineyards and wineries that place a strong emphasis on sustainable farming practices.
Zinfandel reigns supreme here and still produces in a great number of very old vineyards—often 100 years old or older. These old vines create a powerful, voluptuous and sultry wine unlike those of any other region. Sauvignon Blanc, the valley’s signature white grape, also performs exceptionally well. Many other varieties grow comfortably here, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah. Petite Sirah is often found in blends with Zinfandel.