Organic grapes from the winery’s hillside Bella Collina ranch in Ukiah composed this Zin with an added 8% Petite Sirah. Aged 17 months in French oak and neutral barrels, the wine is ripe and juicy, with brambly boysenberry and bittersweet dark chocolate-espresso. Mid-palate notes detect white pepper, with added flavors of cigar box, beet root, fennel, and soy sauce. Layered and complex, with a sleek texture.
Crystal clear and gem-like notes of powdered lemon cookie, cut grass, lime blossom, and guava. Salty minerality comes in mid-way, augmented by on-going aromatics of sweet pear.
For your customers who appreciate more body – and more oak – in their Chardonnay, the extended regimen in French and American barrels here does the trick. Rich and balanced, with butterscotch-topped cantaloupe and lemon bar, the subtle spice, and not-so-subtle char sufficiently satisfies.
Black-peppered pomegranate, espresso, and fennel run deep through this well-developed, though youthful, red. Supple tannins and a juicy flow of dark fruit and cinnamon ignite earth tones on the finish.
Aromas of concentrated blackberries and espresso are mesmerizing. Cinnamon and clove season black raspberry. Coffee tannins take hold but soon release on a glide path of sandalwood and soy sauce.
Deep core, some fade at the edge of the glass, well defined Cabernet Sauvignon aromas, dark cherry, mocha, cassis, cloves, weighty and round on the palate. It shows power and heft, yet it is refined, with well-integrated smoky oak. The tannins are evident, but also ripe with no coarseness. Good length on the back palate. It developed nicely over the course of an hour. A wine built to age well over the next 3 to 5 years.
Medium deep color core, with some fade at the rim of the glass, excellent aromatic intensity, displays a very nice purity of fruit character, blackberry, dark fruit, mocha, and well-integrated oak. Good structure, yet well balanced, with no alcohol heat even though it’s at 14.5 percent. A round, polished, plush style; bright acidity forms the backbone of the wine with good length and a soft finish. Characteristic of high-quality valley floor fruit.
Dried rose petals are seductive, with milk chocolate blueberry. Pomegranate and white pepper are uplifted, thanks to a keen acid structure. A commanding intensity on the finish with notes of cedar and cigar.