Winemaker Notes
This wine has blackberry, raspberry and other brambly fruits characteristic of Alexander Valley, as well as "Graham crust" undertones typical of our Home Ranch terroir. There are subtle hints of oak, briary acidity and soft, ripe fruit tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Edoardo Seghesio planted this vineyard in 1895 on the western benchlands of the Alexander Valley, those original vines accounting for about one-third of this zin. The cool 2010 season created this complex blend with petite sirah (9 percent), a wine that develops floral scents over layers of tar, black currant and crushed black pepper. Saturated with flavor, this is ready to decant now; if you cellar it, wait ten years or more for the secondary flavors to develop.
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Wine Spectator
A powerful wine, both ripe and densely structured. Aromas of black cherry and spicy loam lead to concentrated blackberry, licorice and toasty oak flavors that finish with firm, crisp tannins.
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.