Winemaker Notes
Pairs well with smoked barbeque ribs or frog legs vol au vent
Blend: 65% Zinfandel, 35% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
All-American varieties Zinfandel (65%) and Petite Sirah (35%) make for a deep, dark, and indulgent red. Black plum, graphite, and mocha cedar are deliriously fragrant. On the palate, ripeness reigns, with blackberry and strawberry coating a heathery brush. Approachable with round tannins, the finish goes into cherry-liqueur mode with a juicy, sweet finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The California blend is the 2015 American Vintage California Red and it’s mostly Zinfandel, with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah and other varieties. It offers fabulous spice, white pepper and incense notes as well gorgeous blueberry and blackberry fruit, medium-bodied richness, and a great finish. It has tons of fruit authority, notable balance and length, and will drink nicely for 5-7 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 American Vintage Red (a blend mainly of Zinfandel with some Petite Sirah and a few other varieties) opens with baked cherries, warm blueberries and raspberry pie with touches of exotic spices, potpourri, tilled soil and rose water with a waft of incense. Full-bodied, rich and expressive, it has loads of juicy red and blue fruits in the mouth with plenty of spicy layers, framed by velvety tannins and a racy acid line, finishing long.
California is a winemaking colossus; by itself it is the fourth largest producer in the world. Red wine accounts for 56% of the total by volume, and red grapes 63% of total acres planted. In addition, a number of California red wines are heralded as being among the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.
While the state’s incredibly diverse geography, soils and microclimates allow for a wide array of styles, the key factor unifying California red wine is the abundance of sunshine and a long, consistent growing season. This leads to well-developed fruit marked both by impressive ripeness and balancing acidity.
The state’s most famous red wine region, of course, is Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as king. But California boasts a wealth of other impressive appellations. The much larger and climatically varied Sonoma County also produces world class California Cabernet, along with wonderful examples of California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Fine versions of Cabernet and Zinfandel hail from Paso Robles as well, which is also gaining fame with Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. As for Pinot Noir, terrific examples can be found from AVA’s such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills. Wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are making wonderful Syrahs, and the Sierra Foothill appellations are proving to be an experimental hotbed, with Italian and Spanish varietals employed to great effect.
This of course is a mere sketch. The subject of California red wine is as deep and broad as an ocean, and absolutely a joy to explore!