Storybook Mountain Estate Reserve Zinfandel 2010
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We liked this wine when first reviewed back at the beginning of 2014, and, in truth, we like it even more now. It originally impressed at being both very well-structured and a bit richer and riper than the Storybook Mountain norm, and it has not lost a step in the intervening six years but has, if anything, grown even deeper and more layered with age. At the time, its combination of fruity precision, concentration and architectural restraint signaled a very long life ahead, and it still shows the surprisingly youthful firmness and the vitality of a Zinfandel that is nowhere near reaching its peak. If just now approaching a rich and refined middle age, it can be counted on to go another five to ten years without breathing hard and confirms our belief that its maker’s top offerings rank among the most cellar-worthy Zins around.
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Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.