Winemaker Notes
The Mayacamas Range Zinfandel is Storybook Mountain's primary estate wine from 100% Napa Valley organically grown grapes. Here you will find the varietal character and fruit for which Zinfandel is famous, the depth and structure associated with Napa hillside vineyards, and the balance for which Storybook wines are known. Crafted to be enjoyed on release, the wine’s notable depth and balance will continue its appeal well into the future.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a classic California zinfandel with a warm, ripe-fruit character and intriguing nuances of wild sage, blackberries and sun-baked earth. Moderate tannins and supportive acidity keep it fresh and linear, and bode well for further aging. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Aged a year in a mix of American (30% new) and French oak, the 2021 Zinfandel Mayacamas Range offers up lots of ripe red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with brambly herbs, incense, and sweet tobacco notes. It's medium-bodied with a concentrated, layered mouthfeel and outstanding length. This solid, incredibly satisfying Zinfandel will evolve gracefully over the coming decade.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Storybook Mountain's 2021 Zinfandel Mayacamas Range spent a year in a mix of French and American oak (30% new American). While not overly concentrated, the fruit handles the oak well, as the nose reveals airy scents of ripe cherries and hints of stone fruit and crushed stone. Medium- to full-bodied, this is silky in feel, framed by fine-grained tannins and elegant, with ample length on the finish.
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.