Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Rich and briary, with wild berry and toasty sage aromas and complex, layered flavors of raspberry and cracked pepper, plus hints of mineral and roasted anise. The tannins on the finish are big but ripe.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Slightly fleshier, but still made in an upfront style is the 2009 Zinfandel Tofanelli Vineyard. Sweet black cherry, raspberry, lavender, Provencal herb, pepper and spice notes emerge from this silky textured, fleshy Zin. Enjoy it over the next 4-5 years.
Range: 90-92
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.