|
|
| |
| |
Rotta Zinfandel, 2004
 |
|
 |
To longtime fans of the Paso
Robles region, the name
Rotta Winery might ring a few bells, but only if you were familiar with Paso Robles'
wines before the rest of the country barely knew where Paso was. In
fact, you have to go back several decades to discover the beginnings of
Rotta Winery, which was one of the first three wineries established in
Paso Robles - the others were York Mountain and Pesenti. The original vineyard and
winery were started in 1856 by a Frenchman named Adolph Siot, who later
sold the successful enterprise to
Joe Rotta in 1908. In the 1920s,
Rotta then sold it to his brother
Clement Rotta, who bonded the winery after Prohibition in the 1930s and forged the
label into one best known for its hearty Zinfandels. Today, the
Rotta
label is being revived by one of their grandsons,
Michael Giubbini. The 2004 Rotta
Zinfandel is floral, with extremely fruity Zinfandel aromas and
intense concentration and wild spice. On the nose, this wine shows
bright bramble fruit, ripe raspberry. The palate is complex, brambly,
wild berry and black berry fruit.
|
 |
|
Price $29 |
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Porter-Bass Estate Zinfandel, 2004
|
|
 |
The 2004 Porter-Bass Estate Zinfandel is a vintage that
offers an elegant wine. It’s so
great to see such great wines come from a small family operation.
Winemaker, Luke Bass, has a great history, having started at
Flowers Winery and also working for Tandem and Hirsh among others.
Floral aromas of orange blossom and nasturtium combine with
nutmeg, cinnamon and green peppercorns.
On the palate the wine shows distinct briary qualities along with
flavors of citrus oil and mint. The wine has a long soft finish of balsawood and spice.
Limited.
|
|
|
|
Price $37 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Lamborn Family Wine Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
"If you want something done right you have to do it yourself.
We grow the grapes ourselves. We do our own work in
our own vineyard. We personally hand select the individual grapes
that will make it into your bottle of Lamborn. After all, nobody
knows our grapes better than we do." - Mike Lamborn. Take that
concern and care for the fruit and add in Heidi Barrett as your
winemaker and you’ve got a winning combination!
Heidi Barrett's says, "Deep black raspberry in color with wide
open aromas of wonderful Howell Mountain ripe fruit. The nose is loaded
with jammy raspberry, spice, black pepper, currants, and hints of toast
and vanilla. The flavors are very consistent with the aromas and the
impression on the palate is one of richness, ripe fruit, and an overall
silky mouth feel. The structure is big but not tannic or aggressive and
the finish has good length. This is an easy to drink, easy to love zin!"
|
|
|
|
Price $42 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Summit Lake Zinfandel, 2002
|
|
 |
2002 Summit Lake Zinfandel comes from
vineyards high atop Howell Mountain which are well known for the reds.
Raspberries, subtle anise, cracked black pepper and chocolate abound in
voluminous proportions 100% Zinfandel fruit.
“Summit Lake consistently produces one of California's best
Zinfandels,” Dan Berger Wine Enthusiast.
“These wines age beautifully,” Robert Parker.
Drink now to 2020.
Only 1447 cases produced.
|
|
|
|
Price $25 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Sausal Century Vine Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
The Sausal 2005 Century Vine is their finest estate
Zinfandel, produced from dry farmed vines that are over 100 years old.
These vines, planted in 1877 along Sausal Creek still produce fruit that
embody the truest Zinfandel varietal characteristics. Old vines means
the fruit ripens differently and the end result is an intensely spicy
zin very unique! The wine then ages for 24 months in French oak barrels.
This Zinfandel is elegant and complex, and will pair well with juicy
steak, wild game or marinated pork. Sausal Century Vines Zin has
wonderful aromas of boysenberry, raspberry, sweet cherry, cinnamon and
black pepper. In the mouth, the wine has soft, chocolaty tannins and
ripe, concentrated fruit with notes of boysenberry jam, plum and pepper.
The Century Vines Zinfandel will cellar well for at least eight years.
|
|
|
|
Price $37 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Carol Shelton Karma Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
Carol Shelton’s 2005 Karma Zinfandel is so named
because of an arrangement between her and the Rues who own the vineyard
on Wood Road – she also makes their delicious wine!
We love to just drink this Zin for its lush juicy fruit and the
layers of interesting spice and earthy richness. Full of freshly-ground
black pepper aromas and some nice cedary-spicy oak components, it has a
rich creamy mouthfeel despite its firm tannic backbone. This vintage
shows a touch of gaminess that we find quite reminiscent of a nice Cotes
du Rhone. That wild note is beautifully compatible with game meats,
especially duck, or actually with any grilled meats. We also had a nice
paring which surprised us—Alaskan halibut with a porcini mushroom sauce.
670 cases produced.
|
|
|
|
Price $37 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Rotta Winery Zinfandel, 2004 Giubbini Estate Vineyard
|
|
 |
From Rotta Winery the 2004 Giubbini Estate
Vineyard, Paso Robles is premiers with
floral, extremely fruity Zinfandel aromas and intense Zinfandel
flavor.
It shows nice earth tones with black pepper and spice along with notes of
cherries, strawberries and blueberries. This wine has a velvet texture
on the palate with sweet plums and the finish shows a bit of minerality.
The rich, full body of this
wine balances the ripeness of the wine and softens the higher alcohol.
|
|
|
|
Price $29 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Dashe Cellars Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, 2006
|
|
 |
The Dashe Cellars Dry Creek Valley 2006 Zinfandel
was particularly showy from the start, with its purple-black color,
perfumed aromas of violets and lavender, and rich flavors of black
raspberry, chocolate, and clove spice.
On the palate, you’ll enjoy black raspberry, cassis, chocolate,
clove spice, thick and velvety texture on the mid-palate, long
persistent finish of blackberry and black raspberry fruit, sweet
chocolate and spice. This wine
just bowled us over with its intensely aromatic nose, its round, lush
mouthfeel, and its array of complex flavors.
|
|
|
|
Price $28 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Saucelito Canyon Zinfandel, 2005 Estate Reserve
|
|
|
The Saucelito Canyon 2005 Zinfandel Estate
Reserve is a limited bottling barrel selection Zinfandel from Saucelito
Canyon Vineyard. A darker, brooding Zinfandel, the fruit on the nose is
deep and intense blackberry, blueberry, dried cranberry and cassis.
Cherry cola and sarsaparilla spice leads to vanilla crème, rose petals,
and a dusty minerality. The palate is lush and full with a round black
fruit entry, flavorful fruit, blackberry jam and spice midpalate,
leathery finish and chewy tannin linger. A big yet balanced Zinfandel,
this wine has the fruit to keep its aromas lively coupled with the
natural acidity necessary for age-ability but seldom found in Zinfandel.
This Zinfandel is exceptionally food-friendly and will shine when paired
with seared short ribs; roasted garlic smashed potatoes, and toasted
pistachio peppered salmon. 284 cases produced.
|
|
|
|
Price $38 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Loxton Zinfandel, 2005 Hillside Vineyards
|
|
 |
See why the Colorado Wine News wrote that the Loxton
2005 Hillside Vineyards Zinfandel was runner-up as the best Zinfandel at
this year’s ZAP Festival at Fort Mason. Intense raspberry fruit, great
richness and good acidity all give the wine intensity and complexity
without the heaviness of excess alcohol and oak. The fruit is from a
vineyard in Russian River on Limerick Lane (70%) and from the England
Crest vineyard at the winery. 283 cases produced.
|
|
|
|
Price $28 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Brutocao Zinfandel, 2005 Hopland Ranches
|
|
 |
The Brutocao 2005 Zinfandel, Hopland Ranches is estate bottled, and mighty tasty stuff! Hailing from
Mendocino County and full of great flavors, this is a great wine to
accompany your grilled meats. Blackberry, ripe and surprisingly
succulent aromas introduce the 2005 Classic series Zinfandel. Briary
spice, cedar notes and rich earthen flavors cinch the girth on bright
berry brilliance. We have moved beyond simple ‘kisses of dusty leather’,
so saddle up for a stampede of flavor! Unfined and Unfiltered.
1826 cases produced. |
|
|
|
Price $26 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Storrs Rusty Ridge Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
This proprietary cuvee hails from a series of old vine
vineyards located on the eastern edge of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Head-trained and dry-farmed all, these vineyards yield very minimally
allowing for intensely flavored fruit that produce wines of amazing
concentration and varietal identity. Each vineyard which comes to the
blend and adds something - one brambly fruit, the other backbone and
spice, the other depth and concentration.
Together these vineyards create a wine that will remind all of us
why winemakers engage the four-wheel drive, and then hike through the
worst poison oak to uncover these gems that have nearly been forgotten
to the outside world. Deep ruby in color with a just a touch of purple invites you into
aromas of ripe brambleberries, raspberry, loganberry and boysenberry,
with accents of black pepper and vanilla.
On the mouth, you’ll find a full-bodied wine, with a very supple
palate. You'll again encounter the rich brambleberry notes especially
boysenberry complemented by soft vanilla owing to long-term aging in
small oak cooperage.
|
|
|
|
Price $28 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Collier Falls Zinfandel, 2004 Dry Creek Valley
|
|
 |
The 2004 Collier Falls
Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley has a deep brick red color with aromas of
strawberry and cherries on the nose. Aged in French and American oak,
this wine shows hints of spice on the palate and finishes with a touch
of toasty vanilla from the new oak barrels. Drink now and enjoy for the
next six to eight years. 1100
cases made. |
|
|
|
Price $36 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Starry Night NVOC Russian River Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
The 2005 Starry Night NVOC Russian River Zinfandel
comes from a young vineyard that was grown with cuttings from a
well-known vineyard that was planted in 1928 and has retained many of
the characteristics common to its lineage. In fact, NVOC stands for New
Vine Old Clone. This is a great
wine at a great price! Well
structured with fresh flavors of plums, blackberries and cherries with
hints of pepper and spice, this Zin is a great food wine and great just
for sipping! 380 cases made.
|
|
|
|
Price $22 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Shippey Vineyards Rocking Z Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
Situated at the base of Bradford Mountain on the
western slopes of Dry Creek Valley, Shippey Vineyards is comprised of
two small vineyards, one planted to Zinfandel, the Rocking Z Vineyard,
and the other to Petite Sirah, the Flaming J Vineyard. The first release
of the Rocking Z Zinfandel shows the great promise and potential of this
hillside vineyard with its well drained gravelly loam soil and vines
grafted to the Cloverdale Church heritage clone. A deep rich color, good
structure and balance, and forward aromas and flavors of berries and
spice are on full display in this limited production, 100% Zinfandel,
from California's premier growing region for this quintessential
California variety. This was one
of our favorites at the tasting! 500 cases made.
|
|
|
|
Price $29 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
C G DiArie "Southern Exposure" Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
Most of you are familiar with C G DiArie wines.
The man, who we call Captain Crunch, because of his many years in
food science, has put his experience and expertise into creating
fantastic wines. The “Southern
Exposure” designation for their wines denotes that they feel the wine
has very special qualities. The 2005 Southern Exposure Zinfandel was
made from grapes from the Original Grand Pere Vineyard.
The 2005 “Southern Exposure” Di Arie Zinfandel is a complex and
elegant wine. On the nose it has a rich fruity character of dark berries
combined with spicy notes and hints of black and white pepper. On the
palate the dark berry flavors quickly crescendo to layers of black
cherry, plum and cassis. Some of the flavors characteristic to Zinfandel
as white and black pepper and brier are combined with black current
(cassis) and plum which give the wine a hint of sweetness. The finish
has a spicy character with the cardamom background making this wine very
exotic. This well balanced wine with its unusually long finish fills
your mouth without being tannic. The 2005 “Southern Exposure” Zinfandel
has the elegance which compares to a well made Pinot Noir. 1203 cases made. |
|
|
|
Price $41 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
C5 Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
You don’t have to be a Corvette lover to love this Zin,
but it couldn’t hurt! The 2005
C5 Zinfandel is the premier release of Jeff Lubin’s lifelong dream.
Selling his 1999 C5 Corvette to get start up money, he launched
SideJob Cellars and named his wine after his beloved car.
Deep, dark color, rich powerful flavors, a little spice under the
hood and a long sleek finish.
The lusty wine will stand up to grilled stuff, no matter how rich the
barbecue sauce. Jammy berry and
spice flavors are kicked with firm tannins and just a touch of
sweetness. 482 cases produced.
|
|
|
|
Price $35 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Bugay Zinfandel, 2004
|
|
 |
When it comes to great Zinfandel, there is nothing
better than a Zin made from steep, hillside vineyards. The fruit is
naturally concentrated and distinct. This first release from the Bugay
estate vineyards is nothing short of fantastic. The 2004 Zinfandel has
an aroma that is loaded with raspberry, blackberry and dark cherry. On
the palate the wine reveals its volcanic origin with undercurrents of
complex minerals. A wild mixture of spices, oak and berries play
throughout this wine culminating in a dynamic black pepper finish.
390 cases made. |
|
|
|
Price $39 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Magito Panorama Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
The 2005 Magito Panorama Zinfandel comes from the best vineyards in
northern California. Tom has
blended in small amounts of Syrah, Sangiovese, Petite Sirah, Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot – and wow! – what a complex and tasty wine this is!
Dark berry, wild berry, and earthy cedar flavors are fresh,
vibrant and lively, with nice peppery scents and long, complex finish.
1,550 cases made. Enjoy with
braised short ribs in wine sauce.
|
|
|
|
Price $19 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Robert Rue Zinfandel, 2005
|
|
 |
The balance of lush fruit, rich creamy oak and firm yet softening
tannins creates an ideal structure for this classic Robert Rue 2005
Zinfandel, made by famed winemaker, Carol Shelton. Seductive aromas of
ripe brambly blackberries blended with sweet vanilla and subtle hints of
black pepper. The smooth mouthfeel reveals a core of juicy ripe
blackberry fused with mocha and spicy black pepper. The depth of these
delicious flavors resonates on the palate through to the long, luscious
finish.
Gold Medal 2007 Sonoma County Harvest Fair and Jerry Mead’s New World
International Wine Competition.
822 cases produced. |
|
|
|
Price $34 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Blue Nose Zinfandel, 2005
|
| |
|
The fruit in the 2005 Blue Nose Zinfandel comes from two excellent
vineyards in Dry Creek Valley. Carreras Ranch, an 80 year old vineyard
on the Dry Creek Bench, and Leila’s Vineyard in the heart of Dry Creek
Valley from Rockpile Road cuttings. Having lots of fruit, this
concentrated Zinfandel has black pepper, black raspberry and cassis-like
aromas. The luscious flavors are rich and jammy with some black cherry,
cedar and a little sweet oak in the finish.
|
|
|
|
Price $28 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
2003 Saxon Brown
Casa Santinamaria Zinfandel
|
| |
 |
Planted before the turn of the previous
century on one of the most magnificent sites in all of Sonoma Valley,
Casa Santinamaria is one of only a few ‘field blended' vineyards
remaining in California. Due to the age of the vines and the fact that
they have been dry farmed, the yields are low, the clusters are very
small and the fruit is very concentrated. In 2003, Saxon Brown was able
to harvest only 0.5 tons/acre. This wine, a classic field blend of
Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro,
represents the often unrealized elegance and complexity that we feel
great Zinfandel is capable of. The 2003 Casa Santinamaria Zinfandel has
an intense raspberry and dried cranberry signature that seems to run
from year to year along with black cherry/berry, dark chocolate and
sweet elegant oak tones. On the mouth this wine has great structure with
abundant dried raspberry flavors. Don’t miss it – only 310 cases made! |
|
|
|
Price $30 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
1999
Young Ridge Sportsman Zinfandel
|
| |
|
The 1999 Young Ridge Sportsman Zinfandel is
particularly wonderful for golfers, since it has a picture of a golfer
on the label. This wine is really tasting good and the time in the
bottle has boosted its drinkability tremendously. This Zin starts off
with brilliant red shade with a touch of raspberry hues. Scents of
cedar, cinnamon, vanilla and leather will invite you to take that sip!
On the palate, there are touches of anise, chocolate and caramel
rounding out the oak overtones in a lengthy finish. Originally $30.00.
Now $19.00. Special price for 6 or more - $16.00! |
|
|
|
Price $19 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
John Tyler Zinfandel 2003, Russian River Valley
|
| |
 |
The John Tyler 2003 Zinfandel, like their Pinot Noir,
brings forth the best characteristics of this variety. Their
concentrated winemaking style coupled with the cooler climate in the
Russian River Valley appellation produces a Zinfandel rich in color,
full and silky in texture with bright acid and deep fruit. They provide
the fruit with ample hang time on the vine to encourage physiological
maturity, designed to allow for 2 years of barrel aging as well as 1
year in the bottle prior to release. The 2005 offers layers of candied
cherries, bramble and shaved chocolate. Its opulent aromatic ripeness
almost makes the bright, crystalline fruit in the mouth a surprise, but
it is the bright acidity and balanced alcohol that carry the fresh
berry, floral and toffee finish. This is the rare zinfandel that can be
enjoyed with a variety of foods without dominating or fatiguing the
palate. Try it with everything from steak to mildly spicy fish dishes,
and sharp cheeses like cheddar and Fontina. 475 cases produced |
|
|
|
Price $40 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
Armida Poizin 2005
|
| |
 |
As she stands in the clearing, the cold wind dances
through the trees, swirling her golden mane over her diaphanous, silken
black gown. The full moon melts into the paleness of her skin. As she
stirs the cauldron of Zinfandel she chants an other worldly incantation.
From vials as old as the echoes of time she adds minute pinches of her
ancestry. Her slender fingers rub together as the grains fall, releasing
their magic as they touch the fermenting must. On her face is the look
of both good and evil, of love and hate, of life and sex and all that
stirs you. What is this unearthly potion? It is Poizin, the wine to die
for. Not quite deadly, this delightful Poizin is blended to be soft,
supple, and ready to enjoy NOW. The grapes come from Dry Creek Valley.
Adorned with a skull and crossbones, pair this bottle up with Armida’s
2005 Antidote Pinot Gris (see our Other Whites page) and you’ll have a
great gift idea! Bright fruit flavors are carried on a bed of soft
tannins. Oooh, spooky. |
|
|
|
Price $26 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
Ottimino Zinfandel 2003, Von Weidlich Vineyard
|
| |
 |
Ottimino's land is a land of dreams. When he came to
America in 1913, "Little Eight," so called because he was the last of
eight children and the smallest, had big ambitions. He made his home on
a beautiful ridge above Green Valley and forged a life on new soil. He
planted the land, especially proud of the vines that nurtured the grapes
made into wine for his family's table. Ottimino became a favorite in the
area, and always spoke proudly of his vines. Now the grape grower is
Brad Alper and the winemaker Bill Knuttel and that is a winning
combination! This Zin has big full body and is rich and intense.
Concentrated and highly extracted, it’s overflowing peppery, toasty,
ripe raspberry fruit flavors. Intense, jammy aromas of boysenberry,
blueberry, tobacco, cedar and mocha and work well together along with
overtones of toasty oak. Rich, balanced flavors of blackberry,
huckleberry, black cherry, coffee and mocha lead to a long peppery
close. |
|
|
|
Price $36 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
Lamborn Family Vineyards Zinfandel 2004, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
|
| |
 |
You can’t go wrong with winemaker, Heidi Barrett, making
the wine. This is what she says about this great Zin, “Wonderful nose of
raspberry, black cherry, and plum, with black pepper and spicy
undertones. Accented with toast and medium oak notes, the very soft
tannins make this wine silky and rich across the palate, with flavors
consistent with the aromas. This classic zinfandel, with its elegant
balance, has a lingering finish that will enhance any meal! |
|
|
|
Price $35 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
Joel Gott Zinfandel 2004, Dillian Ranch, Amador County
|
| |
 |
In 2004, many Zinfandel vineyards ripened earlier than
normal, but in the foothills of Amador County, the Dillian Ranch had a
relatively longer growing season. This meant that the grapes experienced
a long hang-time and were able to achieve optimum ripeness. The 2004
harvest of the Dillian vineyard once again produced fruit with richness,
extract, and elegance. The wine exhibits big and rich black cherry,
roasted plum, raspberry, and spice aromas. Up front it is full-bodied
with sweet tannins on the palette, juicy ripe fruit, with mocha and
spicy flavors. We love the balance on this wine and the mouth feel is
complete with a long and elegant finish that lingers only long enough to
want more! |
|
|
|
Price $29 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
