Dashe Cellars – 2008 Florence Vineyard Zinfandel
August 23, 2010
The Facts:
Dashe Cellars 2008 Florence Vineyard Zinfandel is a single vineyard offering. 100% of the fruit is Zinfandel and it all comes from the Florence Ranch. This Dry Creek Valley vineyard is owned by the Husband and Wife team of Jack and Fran Florence who are best known for the Rockpile Ranch vineyards. Dashe Cellars started making this wine with the 2005 vintage, when the vineyard first came on line. Fermentation of this offering occurred in custom made gridded tanks using exclusively natural yeast. Barrel aging occurred over 12 months in all French oak, 8% of the barrels were new. The wine was racked approximately every 3 months. Just fewer than 392 cases of this selection were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $32.
Gabe’s Take:
One of the things that stand out to me about Dashe Cellars is the way they continually highlight specific vineyards with their wines. They do make some cuvee style offerings, but the core of their portfolio is the single vineyard releases from Dry Creek Valley and elsewhere. And beyond simply making single vineyard releases their style allows the fruit from these vineyards to shine and tell the story of a specific spot in a given year.
Candied black raspberry, vanilla and violet aromas are all prominent characteristics of this wine’s nose. There is a pure burst of berry fruits throughout the palate of this 2008 Zinfandel. Along with raspberry and blackberry, cherry, cranberry and pomegranate flavors all play a role. They come together to form an expressive and multi-layered palate that has some jam elements at its core. Wild strawberry, cloves, plum pudding spice, and Chocolate Bosco sauce flavors all emerge on the finish which has good length. The 2008 Florence Ranch Zinfandel is a very nicely balanced wine.
This new release from Dashe Cellars was a bit tight out of the bottle. 45 minutes in the decanter really allowed it to blossom and shine. Drink this wine over the next 5-8 years for maximum pleasure. This is another solid, well made wine from Dashe Cellars, grab it while you can.
MoniClaire Vineyards – 2008 Estate Zinfandel
August 13, 2010
The Facts:
MoniClaire Vineyards 2008 Estate Zinfandel was produced from fruit sourced at their home vineyard. Their vineyards are located at 1750 Lytton Springs Road in Healdsburg. They have 5 acres under vine. The vines are head pruned and the crop yield is closely managed to insure intensity of fruit. Only a couple hundred cases of this wine were produced. The suggested retail price for this Zinfandel is $29.99. MoniClaire Vineyards is an artisan winery in Dry Creek Valley. They’re too small to have regular tasting hours but check their website for specific details on how to contact them so you can schedule a private tasting appointment.
Gabe’s Take:
There are memories and then there are memories. Having had the chance to visit hundreds of wineries over the years I can tell you that those visits come in all shapes and sizes. In Dry Creek Valley, winery visits are almost always special and often they’re intimate and personal. So having visited with just about every winery in DCV at one point or another when I tell you I still smile when I think of my visit with the Smiderle’s I hope you realize how singular it was. Peter and Mary Beth Smiderle are two of the most engaging and friendly folks in a valley loaded with lovely people. They’re a tiny little producer, but if you schedule an appointment they’ll gladly show you their wines. Trust me; it’s an appointment you have to make. So that memory at the forefront of my thoughts I’m very excited to pop the cork on their latest Zinfandel release to see how it stacks up to the previous one that knocked me off my feet with delight.
Dark raspberry and cherry notes along with a hint of vanilla bean all come out in the nose of this 2008 Zinfandel. A medley of berry flavors accompanied by copious spice notes come together to form a nice compote through the palate of this wine. Black cherry pie flavors are particularly dominant and they carry forward through the finish where graham cracker pie crust, earth and a bit of black tea emerge. This wine has soft, lush tannins and more than sufficient acidity. I paired this Zinfandel with Carne Asada and it was a tremendously satisfying match.
I was impressed with how remarkably smooth and silky this wine is. It’s an incredibly easy to drink wine loaded with pleasure. Despite alcohol over 15% this wine doesn’t drink hot at all. This Zinfandel from MoniClaire is a fine wine that will be best in its exuberant youth. Enjoy it over the next 3-5 years for best results.
Wilson Winery -2007 Tori Vineyard Zinfandel
August 11, 2010
The Facts:
The Wilson Winery 2007 Tori Vineyard Zinfandel was produced from fruit sourced at the vineyard of the same name. Tori Vineyard features unusually deep hillside topsoil. In addition to Zinfandel (95%) this wine also has a small helping of Petite Sirah (5%). The fruit for this wine was hand harvested and fermented in open top vats with three punch downs per day. 361 cases of this wine were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $32. Wilson Winery is located at 1960 Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg. They’re open daily from 11 AM until 5 PM. Several tasting options are available (some require a prior appointment). They close on some major holidays so check their website for those specific details or call them at 800-433-4602.
Gabe’s Take:
Wilson makes quite an array of distinctive Zinfandels. Sampling a bunch of them side by side in their tasting room is fascinating exercise. It really help anyone who is paying attention learn about basic differences in fruit from one vineyard to another and things of that nature. On the other end of the tasting spectrum I really enjoy sitting down and giving all my attention to one bottle and letting its charms wash over me as I take notes.
Raspberry and wild strawberry aromas lead the nose of this exceptional 2007 Zinfandel. Berry flavors of all stripes are on parade through the full palate of this wine. Those flavors lean dark and are accompanied by spice notes in droves; black pepper and nutmeg are prominent. This Zin has a lengthy finish that shows off copious black tea notes, minerals, earth, espresso and a touch of pencil lead.
Of all the Wilson Zinfandels I have tasted, the Tori Vineyard may well be the most even keeled. It’s marked by solid acidity, and core of solid fruits and spices. This wine will most definitely age nicely over the next 4-6 years and likely drink well for a couple after that. This is one of the very best wines in the Wilson Portfolio.
A Tasty Quartet For Summertime Drinking
August 5, 2010
With summer in full swing and the year well more than half way over it’s a perfect time to take a quick glance over my shoulder at a quartet of wines that really stands out for one reason or another. They’re also suited to summer drinking. The offerings represented below are wines I tasted and wrote about earlier this year sometime. In short these are the wines that have really resonated with me; selections that I thought about and reflected on long after the bottles were empty. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive or definitive list of any kind. There are MANY other great wines in Dry Creek Valley; but here are four I keep daydreaming about.
Forth Vineyards – NV Rosé – A couple of months ago I was flying back home having spent a week tasting wine in Dry Creek Valley. This included attending Passport and Gateway. So obviously I’d gotten to taste a lot of wine. On that flight though I kept thinking about Jann & Gerry Forth’s Rose. It’s a perfect summertime wine and I sure wished I’d had some on that flight to make it go quicker. Luckily there was some waiting for me when I got home. Please read my full review here.
Kachina Vineyards– 2008 Chardonnay. One of these years I’m going to keep a tally of how many Chardonnays I taste over 12 months. The number certainly won’t be for the faint of heart. There is a handful each year that I absolutely love, and then there are others I enjoy to varying degrees. Unfortunately the largest group of Chardonnays each year are the selections that bore me with their banality. And then there is the latest Chardonnay from Kachina; not only do I love this wine, it also stunned me with its unique flavor profile. Please read my full review here
Dry Creek Vineyard – 2006 The Mariner. It would be impossible for me to compile a list of great Dry Creek wines without mentioning this release. It’s quite simply one of the most impressive wines I’ve tasted this year regardless of varietal, region or style. Throw a steak on the grill, roast some potatoes and dig into this wine over a long, leisurely evening. I’m lucky to taste thousands of wines a year in a variety of settings, when one stands out as much as this 2006 Meritage does, it’s truly memorable. Please read my full review here.
Quivira Vineyards – 2007 Wine Creek Ranch Zinfandel. What you thought this list wasn’t going to include any Zinfandel? I’ve had the chance to taste a lot of excellent Zinfandel this year. The array of styles and flavors is practically dizzying. This release from Quivira is one of those wines you want to share with good company over a delicious meal. It works marvelously with food, seems to grease the wheels of conversation and there’s a better than average chance you’ll head to the cellar for more when the bottle is empty. Drawing some inspiration from Baseball great Ernie Banks, you might want to, decant two. Please read my full review here.
Dutcher Crossing – 2008 Bernier-Sibary Zinfandel
July 31, 2010
The Facts:
The Dutcher Crossing Winery 2008 Bernier-Sibary Vineyard Zinfandel was produced in the field blend tradition. This single vineyard offering is composed of Zinfandel (75%), Petite Sirah (10%), Carignane (10%) and Mourvèdre (5%). The vineyard, which was planted in 1999, is collaboration between owners Jane & Scott Sibary along with renowned grower Paul Bernier. All of the varietals were harvested together and co-fermented in open top tanks with manual punch downs. Barrel aging was accomplished over 14 months in French oak; 32% of the barrels were new. 294 cases of this vintage were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $39.
Dutcher Crossing Winery is located at 8533 Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg. They’re open every day from 11 AM until 5 PM. They close on a handful of major holidays. Please check their website for those specifics, or call them at 866-431-2711. Tours and private tastings are also available by prior appointment.
Gabe’s Take:
The previous vintage of this wine (which was the first) really impressed me. In fact it might have been my favorite wine from the 2007 Vintage that Dutcher Crossing produced. I say might only because I’m pretty fond of their portfolio in general and on any given day I might pick something else. That said having had the opportunity to taste the 2007 on several occasions it knocked me out every time. So sitting down to taste the 2008 the second time around for the purpose of taking some notes is certainly something I relished.
There are copious quantities of spice notes in the nose of this single vineyard Zinfandel; cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and bit of nutmeg all lead the way; black and red berry fruit aromas follow along, with wisps of black plum playing a supporting role. The plum theme continues in the palate were this fleshy fruit leads the charge, There is a duality here; the palate is intense and layered with tons of flavor, yet not a single characteristic is over the top or out of whack. The spice parade joins the plum flavors along with some blackberry and blueberry. Star anise, vanilla bean, a hint of dark cocoa, and just a tiny flash of curry emerge in the finish which is well above average in length. Fine acidity helps keeps things nicely balanced.
Dutcher Crossing gets many things, just right. Their small lot wines are a microcosm of that. Each of them is a unique offering that showcases a special vineyard site. This 2008 Zinfandel is no exception to the outstanding track record being developed by owner Deb Mathy and Winemaker Kerry Damskey.
Zinfandel is generally best consumed in its exuberant youth; The 2008 Bernier-Sibary is certainly performing marvelously at a young age. Give this wine a couple of years of bottle age and I believe it’s one of the rare Zinfandels that are going to be even more remarkable. Drink it between 2012 and 2017 for maximum pleasure. Compared to the 2007 I believe this wine might be slightly better. It’s just a bit less intense, but it’s blessed with subtle layers of complexity and an explosion of spices that go beyond what the 2007 offered. With less than 300 cases, I urge you to grab this impressive effort before it’s sold out.
Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves – 2007 Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel
July 27, 2010
The Facts:
Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves 2007 Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel is made from fruit sourced at the vineyard of the same name. This vineyard sits above the winery itself. In addition to Zinfandel (95%), this wine also contains a dollop of Syrah (5%). Fermentation occurred over 12 days in a submerged cap tank. Barrel aging was accomplished over 16 months in a combination of French and American oak. 950 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.
Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves is a Dry Creek Valley producer located at 9711 West Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg. Bella is open daily for tastings. Several different tours as well as a broad selection of tasting options are also available. A few are limited to Wine Club members so check their website for specific details. In addition to their Dry Creek Valley vineyards, they have acreage under vine in neighboring Alexander Valley as well. Bella produces a diverse array of distinct artisanal offerings, that said, Zinfandel stands at the heart of their operation. If you want to understand their wines you must taste through their Zins.
Gabe’s Take:
Each of the Bella Vineyards Zinfandel’s is distinct in its own right, and every time I’ve tasted through I’ve been impressed. On each occasion that I’ve gone through the Zinfandels something else has been the case too; The Lily Hill Estate has always stood out as my favorite amongst their range of terrific Zins. So it’s fair to say I was very excited to taste the 2007 vintage of this wine again so I could record my impressions.
Aromas of black and red plum along with a range of spice notes all waft invitingly from the nose of this 2007 Zinfandel. Throughout the palate red raspberry, blackberry and plum flavors all play a role. They’re joined by black and white peppercorn, clove and nutmeg spices. The palate has an impressive depth, precision and complexity. Hints of chocolate emerge on the lengthy finish along with continued plum which leans a touch sour on the close. This wine shows off solid acidity, which is part of its impeccable balance. Delicious both on its own and paired with richly flavored foods.
You could drink the Lily Hill now (preferably after decanting it), or you can lay it down for 8-10 years. In either case you’re going to enjoy a tremendous wine that I consider to be one of the benchmarks of Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. In a portfolio loaded with tasty, full flavored, well made wines, the Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel stands as the crown jewel. The 2008 vintage of this wine has just been released.
Wilson Winery – 2007 Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel
June 29, 2010
The Facts:
Wilson Winery is located at 1960 Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg. They’re open daily from 11 AM until 5 PM. Several tasting options are available (some require a prior appointment). They close on some major holidays so check their website for those specific details or call them at 800-433-4602. The Wilson Winery 2007 Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel was produced using fruit from the hillside vineyard of the same name. In addition to Zinfandel (96%), there is also a small amount of Petite Sirah (4%) in this wine. Fruit was hand harvested and fermented in open top vats. Barrel aging occurred over 18 months in a combination of French and American oak. 571 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $32.
Gabe’s Take:
Cinnamon, cloves, and black raspberry lead the lively nose of this 2007 single vineyard Zinfandel. The spice characteristics continue in the palate along with black fruit that dominates and is interspersed by occasional wallops of red fruit flavors. Hints of charcoal, earth and dark sweet chocolate are all part of the above average finish. This wine has solid acidity. With summer here and BBQ season in full force, pair this with something off of your grill.
This wine really comes into its own after it has about 90 minutes of air. If you have the patience to decant you’ll be rewarded by a wine that really explodes on your tongue. This is a classic example of the Jammy side of Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. Like many of the other Wilson Zinfandels the alcohol level is well over 15%; and like the others it doesn’t drink hot in the least. If you like your Zinfandel big, Wilson should be one of your go to producers.
Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves – 2007 Big River Ranch Zinfandel
June 25, 2010
The Facts:
Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves is a Dry Creek Valley based producer. They’re located at 9711 West Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg. Bella is open daily for tastings. A variety of tours as well as different tasting options are also available. Some are limited to Wine Club members so check their website for specific details. In addition to Dry Creek Valley holdings they have vineyard property in neighboring Alexander Valley as well.
The Bella Vineyards 2007 Big River Ranch Zinfandel was produced from fruit sourced at their Alexander Valley property of the same name. In addition to Zinfandel (86%), there is some Petite Sirah (14%) in this wine. Fermentation occurred over 16 days in a submerged cap tank. Barrel aging was accomplished over 18 months in a mix of French and American oak; 20% of the barrels were new. 600 cases of this selection were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.
Gabe’s Take:
I’ve found the Zinfandels from Bella to be amongst the most complex and balanced in Sonoma County. There is a depth and concentration to their wines that make them as substantial as any Zinfandel you match them up against. That said I was eager to taste the 2007 Big River Ranch Zin to see how it stacked up against previous vintages I’ve sampled.
Hints of thyme, eucalyptus and pine support the bevy of ripe berry fruit aromas that are on display in the effusive nose of this Zinfandel. Fleshy red and black fruits make their presence known through the even keeled, full flavored palate. A touch of vanilla is present as well and becomes a bit more prominent towards the finish. Speaking of the finish it’s a whopper. It’s lengthy and layered which is terrific, but it’s smooth and elegant, almost impossibly so. There is a final burst of lush fruit that glides over the tongue and back of the throat. Fine acidity keeps things in check here.
You could drink this Zinfandel now or cellar it for 5-7 years. In either case, when you open it you’re going to enjoy an impressive example of this varietal. The 2007 Big River Ranch Zinfandel is another winner from Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves.
Quivira Vineyards – 2007 Wine Creek Ranch Zinfandel
June 7, 2010
The Facts:
The Quivira Vineyards 2007 Wine Creek Ranch Zinfandel is produced using fruit from their home estate vineyard. Wine Creek flows through their property and empties into Dry Creek. In addition to making wine the folks at Quivira have worked diligently to be stewards of the land they inhabit. One project has been the return of Steelhead trout to Wine Creek. The 2007 Vintage of this wine has 8% Petite Sirah blended in with the Zinfandel (92%). Fermentation occurred over 10-14 days in open top fermenters using native yeast. Barrel aging was accomplished over 18 months in a combination of French and Hungarian oak; 25% of the barrels were new. 375 cases of the 2007 vintage of this offering were produced. This Zinfandel has a suggested retail price of $34.
Gabe’s Take:
The nose of this Zinfandel is loaded with big, deep, dark berry aromas. The berry theme continues in the palate as a compote of both black and red berry jam flavors star. Blackberry, huckleberry, raspberry and wild strawberry are all in evidence with undertones of vanilla and spice providing a nice counterpoint. This cornucopia of rich, layered flavors continues through the finish where some additional spice, as well as a hint of sour fruit emerges. The finish has good length and fine acidity keeps everything in check here. This wine is a bit tight out of the bottle right now and an hour or so in the decanter really helps it show off its many charms.
I find the Wine Creek Ranch Zinfandel to be one of the hallmarks in the Quivira portfolio. They take the signature grape of Dry Creek Valley and really let it shine. So many Zinfandels these days are over the top and this one, thankfully, isn’t one of them. It is Jammy though, but it’s what I call good Jammy. Most importantly it’s balanced and ultimately quite food friendly.
Wilson Winery – 2007 Molly’s Vineyard Zinfandel
June 6, 2010
The Facts:
The Wilson Winery 2007 Molly’s Vineyard Zinfandel was produced using fruit from their estate vineyard of the same name. Molly’s Vineyard which is located off of West Dry Creek Road is a hillside vineyard with volcanic and alluvial soil. The vineyard, planted in 2004, is named after Ken and Diane Wilson’s dog Molly. 90% of Molly’s Vineyard is planted to Zinfandel and 10% to Petite Sirah. For this 2007 selection the blend is 95% Zinfandel and 5% Petite Sirah. Fruit was hand harvested and fermented in open top vats with punch downs three times a day. Barrel aging was accomplished over 18 months in a combination of French and American oak. 489 cases of this offering were produced from the 2007 vintage. The suggested retail price for this wine is $32.
Gabe’s Take:
Dark fruit aromas permeate your nose when you take a whiff of this wine. Smells of bramble are underscored by Chocolate Bosco Sauce characteristics as well as hints of vanilla and a gentle touch of thyme. Blueberry and blackberry flavors dominate the palate along with black plum and raspberry. A rich complement of throat tingling spices also joins in to form a richly layered series of flavors. The finish of this Zinfandel is lengthy and fairly complex with continued berry fruit and re-emerging vanilla lingering for a nice long while. Medium tannins are finely ground and soften with some air.
Bottom line, this is another big, rich, full flavored Zinfandel from Wilson Winery. If you like your Zins loaded with big flavors and berry fruit, while not going over the top the 2007 Molly’s Vineyard is a good choice. Pair this with grilled tri-tip on a ciabatta roll for a tremendous match.
