Winemaker Notes
The 2012 Dickerson is a brilliant example of Napa Valley Zinfandel with bright acidity and ripe, red fruit. Good weight and a nice mouthfeel set the stage for a fruity, lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A wonderful effort, the 2012 Ravenswood Dickerson has such a gorgeous aroma; beautiful raspberries just flow out of its nose; quite rich on the palate and possessing superb balance and style; easily on of California's top efforts.
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Wine & Spirits
Give this hours in the decanter to grow lush and smooth before serving it with grilled lamb. The juicy cherry fruit comes forward with air, the hard tannins transforming into flavors of red berry skin and tomato skin. It's evocative of Napa Valley without any dimpling of fruit.
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Wine Enthusiast
There’s a feral element to this vineyard-designate, the producer’s only one from Napa Valley, from a vineyard planted originally in 1930. Extracted and thick, it offers plum, blackberry and raspberry around big, broad shoulders of mocha and oak. And as always, there’s a hint of mint.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.