Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From an Amador County site, the 2013 Zinfandel Sadie Upton Vineyard (15.5% alcohol) comes from vines planted in 1922 at the rather impressive elevation of 1500 feet. This is an aromatic, medium-bodied Zinfandel despite the lofty alcohol. The soil is said to consist of lots of granite, quartz, and silica, and those elements are evidenced in the wine’s minerality, its almost Pinot Noir-like perfume, and moderate weight. This is a beauty, not a blockbuster Zinfandel, but one of enormous charm, endearing ripe fruit, and a flowery, spicy red and blue-fruited character. With a terrific crisp, zesty freshness due to its notable acidity, it should be drunk over the next 5-8 years.
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.