What I found most interesting about my visit to California has to do with their own identity as a wine growing region. Most wineries have put their Cabernet Sauvignon at their highest tier with Chardonnay somewhere behind it and Zinfandel on the bottom rung of the ladder. This is great news for people like me that can’t afford to drink $150 Cabernet Sauvignon. The reason that this is curious is that it really feels as though the wineries in California are somehow chasing Bordeaux with their Cab Sauv and have overlooked the potential of their Zinfandel. It was an absolute pleasure to visit Ravenswood where they have embraced their Zinfandel and focus on bottling several different individual vineyards. Many of the vines at Ravenswood are 150 years old which are impressive to see in their own right and make a visit to the winery worthwhile.
2011 Big River – Alexander Valley – 100% Zinfandel – $35USD – Vines from 1893 – ****+ – There is a lot of raisin and plum on the nose. The flavours are Raisin, Plum and Chocolate on the finish. There is very good balance in this Zin. The tannin is still quite firm but starting to relax. This should age for another 7-10 years.
2011 Belloni – Russian River Valley – 75% Zinfandel/25% Mixed-Black – $35USD – 100+ year old vines – ****+ – The nose is heavy with strong dark fruit flavours. You have Plum, Blackberry, Currant and Raisin. The flavours are loaded with fruit and spiced apple on the finish. This will age another 10-15 years.
2011 Barricia – Sonoma Valley – 80% Zinfandel/20% Petit Sirah – $35USD – Vines from 1892 or older – ****1/2 – The nose is cherry, raspberry with hints of pine mixed in there. The flavours are strong and concentrated with Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Blackberry with a nice kick of spice on the finish. The tannin on this wine is very firm and should age for another 10-15 years easily.
2012 Old Hill – Sonoma Valley – 75% Zinfandel/25% Mixed-Black – $60USD – 160 year old vines – ****1/2 – This is very fruit driven. Raspberry, Cherry, Smoke and Leather. This wine is perfectly balanced and drinks dangerously easy. This is still tight and closed so if you open it now make sure you decant it for a few hours minimum before drinking. This will age for 10-15 years.
