Winemaker Notes
Flavors of black pepper, vanilla, hints of smoke and tar intermingled with ripe fruit flavors-lots of luscious Bing cherries and sweet plums.
"Saturated purple. Explosively aromatic nose features powerful blackberry, candied plum and fruitcake notes and an exotic Asian spice element. Not at all heavy, though, with the palate showing impressively energetic red and dark berry flavors, molten tannins and a taut, youthful quality on the back. According to Peterson, "this is the best fruit out of Dry Creek Valley."
-International Wine Cellar 91-92
"With lots and lots of well-defined, optimally ripened blackberry and stone fruit notes leading the way in both its very deep, full-scaled aromas and wonderfully well-extracted flavors, this year's Teldeschi hits all the right varietal marks. It is at once endowed with zesty acidity and palpable tannins, yet both of those pieces of the puzzle are appropriately buffered by plenty of real fruit at its very heart. The wine's obvious richness may tempt some into early drinking, but this one is bound to get better and better if allowed three to five years in bottle."
-Connoisseurs' Guide 95/100
Professional Ratings
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.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.