Winemaker Notes
96% Lubenko Vineyard Zinfandel, Fiddletown 4% Petite Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A thoroughly enjoyable Zinfandel that shows the variety's lusty character, but with special grace and finesse. Bone dry and richly tannic, it has complex flavors of blackberries, blueberries and currants, with earthier notes of tobacco, leather and unsweetened dark chocolate. Very fine.
Editors' Choice -
Wine & Spirits
Grown at the Lubenko Vineyard from head-pruned vines planted in 1910, this is an intensely concentrated, bowl-you-over zin that manages to stay in balance. There's an iron-rich soil character that keeps it savory against the purple fruit, which will need time in bottle to grow more expressive. Scents of dark mushrooms, chili spice and leather all add to the complexity. Decant this several hours before dinner if you open it now, to serve with braised lamb.
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.
Originally a source of oenological sustenance for gold-seeking miners of the mid-1800s, the Sierra Foothills was the first region in California to produce wines from European grape varieties. Located between Sacramento and the Nevada border, this area’s immigrant settlers chose to forgo growing the then-ubiquitous Mission grape and instead brought with them superior vines from the Old World to plant alongside mining camps.
Zinfandel has been the most important variety of this region since its inception, taking on a spicy character with brambly fruit and firm structure. Amador and El Dorado counties, benefiting from the presence of volcanic and granite soils, are home to the best examples. Bold, robust Rhône Blends and Barbera are also important regional specialties.