Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The saturated purple-colored 2001 Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard boasts a glorious bouquet of flowers, blackberries, raspberries, and cherries backed up by enormous body, great purity, tremendous texture, and a finish that lasts for 40-45 seconds. Usually one of the stars of this impressive portfolio, it is seamlessly made with tremendous integration of acidity, tannin, and spice. This fruit-dominated Zinfandel should last for a decade, although it can be enjoyed in its youth. It is a profound effort.
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Wine Spectator
Magnificent; vivid, lively and enticing, with cascading flavors that are tight and focused, with a medley of zesty blackberry, wild berry, raspberry and exotic floral and spice nuances. Intense and firmly tannic, too.
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.