Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
My tasting memory must have long recall—I was a fan of this winery's Zinfandels over two decades ago and had rarely tasted the wine since that time. In a recent blind tasting of 50 Zinfandels, the 2014 Saucelito Canyon Vineyard emerged on my scorecard as one of my favorite wines. The wine shows excellent red berries and an enticingly smooth palate. This is clearly a "claret" style Zin. I can imaging paring this wine with roast chicken. Drinking quite well now. (Tasted: July 19, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
Plump blueberry, baked black plum, cracked-rock earthiness and bloody meats show in a reserved way on the nose of this bottling from one of California's oldest vineyards. The sip begins with dark strawberry and ripe red-cherry notes but is quickly consumed by chalky tannins and lively acidity that unleash a wave of white pepper and cola into the finish.
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.
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.