Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner and Old Vines Zinfandel Great Picks For Holiday Gifting

Ready for the holidays? These two bottles from Sonoma will help you celebrate.

Perfect Picks

I recently got an email from a friend trying to pick my brain on what wines to give as gifts. It got me thinking about what makes for a great holiday wine gift. After sampling two new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard, I think I have my answer.

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We opened up the 2018 The Mariner and the 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel. The winery is located in Dry Creek Valley, one of our favorite AVAs in California’s famed Sonoma wine country. Each bottle has just what it takes to fill Santa’s stocking or to present to anyone planning on ringing in the new year.

The Mariner has long been our favorite red blend. It is a Meritage, which is America’s answer to Bordeaux’s famed blends. It must include two of the “noble” Bordeaux grapes and no grape can exceed 90%. It usually applies to a winery’s top blend.

The blend for the 2018 version of The Mariner (it changes slightly each year) is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. It is aptly named because the winemaker must navigate his way through the vintage. We’re happy to say winemaker Tim Bell navigated the choppy seas without crashing on the rocks.

Two Great Gifting Recommendations

The Mariner opens with aromas of cranberry and black cherry. The first sip has a bit of heat even though this is 13.9% ABV, less than many “big” California reds. Upon sipping the aggressive initial impression faded into a delightfully smooth texture and dark fruit.

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One of the reasons we dub this a great gifting wine is that it has multiple layers that will delight savvy wine lovers. It has savory notes as well as cocoa and white pepper. The finish displays vanilla and a hint of violet. Part of the complexity is due to the aging for 18 months in French and Hungarian oak, 44% new. The cooler harvest allowed additional hang time for the grapes to develop their wonderful character. The Mariner is priced at $50.

I was quite anxious to open and try the 2019 Old Vine Zin, since we just love OVZ. My wife had me hold my horses until the next night so that we could pair it with some nicely grilled herbed lamb chops.

Old Vine Zin And Lamb Chops

This is a big, rich wine that benefits from being paired with a robust steak, or as we found, some perfect lamb chops. The fatty nature of the meat tames the magnitude of the wine, which clocks in at 14.5% ABV. Dry Creek Vineyard knows their grapes and the addition of 19% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignane adds to the allure.

The OVZ is aged for 15 months in French, Hungarian, and American oak, 22% new. The tannins give nice structure, but the overall texture is rounded. There are lush tones of black cherry, espresso, and cedar.

The vines for this bottling average more than 100 years old and some are nearly 140 years old. As the vines age, their yield goes down, but each grape is a masterpiece of concentrated flavor. This is an ideal gift for your friends who like to grill or enjoy a hearty steak. At $38 SRP, you may consider picking up a couple of bottles.

I’m pleased to see that Dry Creek Vineyard wines are widely available, but if you can’t find these bottles in your local wine shop, they are available for purchase online.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Dry Creek Vineyard New Releases Hit The Summer Entertaining Trail

Grab one or more of these three wines for your next patio wine extravaganza.

Patio Party Planning

When that old sun begins to shine on the backyard and the grill is smoking away, you need just the right wines for the friends descending on your patio. Here is a trio of new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard that capture the fun of a wide-open summer.

2020 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

Dry Creek Vineyard has produced Chenin Blanc every year since the family winery was founded in 1972. That’s a lot of Chenin!

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It took some luck and skill to bring this delicious wine to market. A wildfire in Sonoma and one in a remote forested area threatened the purity of the region’s wine grapes. Since white grapes aren’t fermented on their skins, they are less susceptible to smoke taint. Lighter pressings were also used to limit the potential impact.

This is a simply wonderful Chenin that is a perfect dinner guest. Honeysuckle and peach notes on the nose give a foretaste of what’s to come. Lemon, melon, and a hint of orange zest grace the palate. The wine has a soft and filling texture. It is an ideal pairing for seafood or shines as an aperitif. SRP is $16.

2019 Heritage Vines Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

I’ll cut right to the chase: This wine rocks! The Heritage Vines are pre-Prohibition era vines grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock. The result is young vine wine with Old Vines characteristics. This is perhaps our favorite Zinfandel of the bushels out there.

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We popped this one open at the end of an evening of dinner and wine with friends. It was time for something sweet. Out came a chocolate mousse pie.

I’m not sure if this is an ideal pairing – but it does combine two longtime loves: chocolate and excellent Zin! Some Zins entice you with jammy fruit flavors. The Heritage Vines is a more refined bottle with complex layers changing and dancing as you drink.

The black cherry and raspberry notes fill the mouth as you enjoy highlights of toasted oak and savory herb. It’s a rich and round wine with silky tannins. The finish is all mocha with a dash of white pepper. At $26, this is a tremendous value.

2020 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

Buy this wine and buy it in abundance for your summer entertaining. This Fumé Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the most planted grape in Dry Creek Valley and a variety championed by Dry Creek Vineyard. It’s a classic dry wine that is now in its 49th vintage.

It’s modeled after the beloved wines of the Loire Valley in France and it has a chic yet fun style that’s perfect for summer. Lime and the smell of fresh-cut grass highlight the bouquet. On the palate there is grapefruit aplenty with peach and tropical flavor. The acidity is intertwined with a refreshing minerality.

We paired this with Barramundi in herbed butter sauce and Ombré Root Vegetable Gratin. The acidity of the wine contrasted nicely with the fattiness of the fish. The artful gratin dish brought delicate flavors to the meal and the Fumé provided the high notes for the bites.

The wine finishes crisply and with the right chill on the bottle, this is ideal for a warm evening on the patio. At $16 we recommend this as a multi-bottle buy.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Cameron Hughes New Releases: Lot 825 Napa Valley White Meritage and Lot 811 Lodi Zinfandel

Meritage isn’t for red wine lovers only! We uncork a rare and delicious white Meritage.

Meritage Is America’s Blend

We’ve written frequently about Meritage, stellar blends crafted solely from specific "noble" Bordeaux grape varieties and considered to be the very best wines of the vintage. It’s modeled after Bordeaux, where wine blending is an artform that has resulted in some of the world’s greatest wines.

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Truth be told, when we think about Meritage, luscious red grapes are on our mind. Things took a twist as we sampled two of the latest releases from Cameron Hughes.

Lot 825 2020 Napa Valley White Meritage

Red Meritage is made from the classic six Bordeaux grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Carmenere, and Malbec) – all juicy delicious grapes. The more rare white Meritage is made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and perhaps some Muscadelle du Bordolais.

To test drive this wine, our chef (my wife, that is!) prepared Grilled Caraway Salmon with dill sauce and grilled veggies. As we sipped this wine, I prepared for the tingly jolt of trademark acidity that usually accompanies Sauvignon Blanc. The shock was never delivered.

Instead we were sipping on a most elegant wine that struck the perfect balance between the rounded, less-acidic notes of the Semillon and the tangy flavors of the Sauvignon Blanc. These two grapes are a classic Bordeaux pairing and the Napa Valley winemaker, who previously worked in Bordeaux, created a wine with true finesse.

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Lime, grapefruit, and wet river rocks, are present on the nose. The silken texture draws you in to enjoy the flavors of white blossoms, lychee, and citrus. As opposed to sharp edges, the wine is round and soothing with a slight beeswax tone.

The blend is 70% Semillon and 30% Semillon. The alcohol is quite low at 12.9%, making it an amiable partner for a variety of dinner entrees. This is one of the most delicious white wines we’ve had in the last six months. The price is only $16, what we consider an amazing price.

Cameron Hughes is a négociant, a wine trader, who doesn’t have a winery, but instead buys lots from wineries (with the names remaining anonymous) and bottles them under his own label. The only clue we have for the original winery is that it is one of the” most critically acclaimed and awarded wineries in Rutherford.” We have an idea about the identity of the winery – and if we’re right, this is a must-buy bottle.

Lot 811 2019 Lodi Zinfandel

Yes, we did gush about the white Meritage, but we can’t overlook this succulent wine from Lodi. By now you should know that Lodi is the Zinfandel epicenter of the world. It is a grape of many expressions, and this one is quite tasty.

To accompany the Zin, I fired up the grill to prepare my famous (in my mind!) mici. Mici are Romanian street food, essentially a small slider that is as popular there as hamburgers are in the US. They are made with a mix of pork, beef, and lamb, plus an array of spices that had me emptying out the cupboard searching every square inch for little used bottles.

Zin can be big and bouncy, or more reserved and refined. This one is of the former variety.  On the initial approach, there is a smokiness and black pepper, but big fruit is the name of the game here. Blackberry jam with raisin notes fills the palate and is wrapped in loose tannins that don’t interfere with the smooth ride.

This bottle checks in at 14.9% ABV, but there is nary a harsh, hot note. Instead it glides in with a satiny finish, showing off with some vanilla high notes.

A Zinfandel that is light on your wallet, it comes from a pioneering Lodi farm family and costs a mere $13. It was spot-on with my mici, which were nice and garlicky and served on pretzel buns with brown German mustard.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Sonoma Zinfandel Highlights Blind Tasting

A blind tasting opens our eyes to Zinfandel.

Eyes Wide Shut

We just love blind tastings. The mystery of not knowing the identity of the wine you are sipping and swirling adds intrigue to any wine occasion. I know that master sommeliers earn their spurs by being able to identify wines, regions, and grapes by taste and aroma alone.

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I must confess it can be challenging. Winemakers have so many tricks up their sleeves. Whether the wine is finished in stainless steel or French oak has a big impact on the wine. The country and region change the picture too -- a Cabernet Sauvignon from South America may be soft as a Merlot while a Merlot from Washington State can be outright bold. And don’t even mention malolactic fermentation.

All this is to say that when the blinders are put on, identifying wine is tricky. It also forces you to tune into your senses of taste and smell. We did that just recently for a patio blind tasting.

Exploring The 2018 Vintage

I was able to nail the grapes for all three wines -- of course, that is because they were all the same: Zinfandel. I also put the wines in the bag, so I was the only one in the group who knew which was which. The identities were unknown to my wife and two guests.

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We fired up the grill and cooked some burgers and Beyond (no meat) burgers to go with the meal. Some homemade coleslaw added some crunch to the burgers. As the meal was served, wine was poured.

Our three Zins were all 2018 vintage. Leading off was the Cameron Hughes Lot 744 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. This wine comes from a small family winery that has been crafting Zinfandel for decades. It’s a limited run of 800 cases. It starts with rich, jammy berries accented with leather notes then flows into spice flavors on silky tannins. This was a great start to our tasting. SRP is $17.

Our second selection was the Turley 2018 Fredericks Vineyard Zin from Sonoma Valley. Turley is one of our favorite producers and is famed for their single-vineyard wines. This wine was dubbed drier than the first and was refined with elegant, laid-back fruit and earthy flavors. The grapes come from a certified organic vineyard and the wine gets 15 months in oak barrels. Truly beautiful at a price point of about $45.

Old Vines Zinfandel

Number 3 was the Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vines Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley. This wine was rich with blackberry and cherry and a lingering finish. It’s complex with bright acidity. The wine has 19% Petite Sirah, adding to the rounded mouthfeel. The vines for this wine average more than 100 years in age and in some cases, nearly 140 years old. SRP is $38.

Before we revealed the wines, everyone critiqued the wines and picked their favorite. I replied that I couldn't pick one, because it is like being asked to pick a favorite child. It was a win-win-win! It was a great demonstration of how elegant Zinfandel can be once you step away from the gimmicky Zinfandel sold in the grocery store.

Full Disclosure: Some of the wine was received as marketing samples.

Cassata Sonoma Unleashes Cru-Level Quality In Wine Releases

The cru designation is reserved for Europe’s greatest vineyards. Does a Sonoma “cru” wine live up to the label?

The Search For Utopium

When I learned that Cassata Sonoma’s line of wines is called Utopium, a smile lit up my face. After all, isn’t everyone searching for Utopia? It’s a turn of phrase that conjures up the ideal world (or wine) in every respect.

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The Cassata Sonoma Family Vineyard is located in Glen Ellen, California, known for its exceptional soils and climate. The vineyard, purchased by Tom Cassata in 2002, is located in Sonoma, also known as the Valley of the Moon. The vineyard is farmed bio-sustainably with plants, animals and nature all working together.

“We believe in creating excellence through sustainable winemaking practices,” said Cassata. “This ensures that the vineyard and its environment can continue to produce wines for future generations and is the ultimate in sustainability.” The Cassata Sonoma brand Utopium features four grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc. In addition, the vineyard also produces four bio-sustainable varieties of olive oil.

A Sonoma Cru

What riveted my attention is a special designation on two recent Cassata Sonoma releases. The winery offers a 2014 Sonoma CRU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2014 Sonoma CRU Reserve Zinfandel. How did the cru vineyard designation sail across the ocean and land in California? My inquiring mind wanted to know.

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The fruit for the two CRU wines comes from a very specific part of the vineyard known for producing high quality fruit. The wines are also barrel aged for five years. We had the CRU Cabernet Sauvignon, so I was ready to uncork and get to the bottom of the lingering question: Is the cru label deserved?

We decided that the wine would be the centerpiece of our Valentine’s Day dinner. Rather than grabbing a Styrofoam clamshell takeout dinner, we decided to whip up a gourmet caliber meal on our own. (I say “we” because I did make the potatoes!).

The entree was Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb with a luscious coating of breadcrumbs, rosemary, mustard, and several other secret ingredients known only to my wife. My side dish was Crushed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Lemon, which was executed brilliantly by yours truly. Roasted vegetables rounded out the plate. The crowning touch was the 2014 CRU Cab.

Decant De Wine?

My mind was probably elsewhere as dinner preparations unfolded. I posted a picture of the wine on Instagram and got some nice reaction including a comment from the winery that I should open the wine to let it breathe. Aha, I thought, the perfect occasion for my swan-neck decanter. I only bring it out on special occasions because of the gyrations needed to clean it the next day.

I merrily poured the wine into the decanter and proudly posted a perfectly composed photo. I was soon pinged by the winery and was informed that the wine shouldn’t be decanted and the bottle merely opened. We’ll I certainly wasn’t going to chance spilling any of this noble wine by pouring it back in the bottle. I also reasoned that just opening the bottle only exposes about one square inch to the softening effect of air.

Some of the best discoveries have been made by accident, and I’ll list this decanting adventure under that heading. When we sat down to our beautiful meal and sipped the CRU Cabernet, it was magical.

On the nose there were delicate aromas of mocha and red fruit. Some wines getting significant aging in barrels can become as impenetrable as oak itself. Not so with this wonderful CRU. The tannins were smooth and dialed back. The palate was awash with coca, black cherry, and deep flavors of butterscotch and caramel. The interplay between the CRU and our lamb entree was spectacular.

The Cassata Sonoma 2014 CRU Reserve Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a memorable experience at a mere $60 SRP. It certainly drinks like a Cab for which you’d expect to pay twice that amount. The CRU label properly calibrates your expectations.

Another Trip To Utopium

Our enthusiasm for the CRU Cabernet shouldn’t distract you from the other wines in the Cassata Sonoma portfolio. We also sampled the outstanding 2012 Sonoma Zinfandel.

Deep ruby in color it has plum and cocoa on the palate wrapped in notes of warming berries. There is a dash of pepper to accent the finish. It’s a big wine and the 14.9% ABV was apparent at the start, but the impact smoothed as the sipping continued. It’s well-made and well-priced at $39. It did leave me wondering how the CRU Zinfandel would compare.

For those of you who may not be able to pop in to Sonoma, Cassata has announced that its CRU Wine Club will open in Bonita Springs, Florida, this month. It will feature a wine room for tastings and pairings. Featured will be the line of Utopium wines plus the Talisman Pinot Noir from the Los Carneros AVA. We can’t wait to pay a visit.

Full Disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Here Are Four Romantic Red Wines To Spark Your Valentine’s Day Celebration

Looking for a perfect bottle to celebrate with your sweetie? Here are four top picks.

Ready For Romance?

The stage is set. Candles. Soft music. Delicious meal. What’s missing? That’s right, the perfect wine.

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At Vino-Sphere world headquarters we taste hundreds of wines a year with one goal: to identify the best of the best for you, our readers! Today we are pleased to present our picks for Valentine’s day. Here are four reds (the color of romance!) just perfect for your enjoyment.

Cameron Hughes 2018 Lot 744 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Yes, we have waxed poetic about the great value and taste of wines from Cameron Hughes. Why not? It’s hard to find wines from prestigious boutique wineries at less than half price. Priced at $17, this wine comes from one of our favorite regions – and one of the world’s best for Zin: Dry Creek Valley.

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You can expect an explosion of jammy flavors flowing into complex flavors of leather and pepper wrapped in silky textures. Decant this for 30 minutes to let the wine open up and display it’s full range of layers. It comes from one of the region’s top family wineries that’s been crafting top-rated Zinfandel for decades. Available through Cameron Hughes website.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2018 Meritage, Dry Creek Valley

This wine is a sure winner and one of our top choices for our own dining and entertaining. Meritage (pronounced like Heritage) is America’s Bordeaux-style wine. Dry Creek Vineyard was the first in California to produce a wine with Meritage on the label, so it knows how to produce it beautifully.

This is an assemblage of 63% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot. It seamlessly blends ripe black cherry, caramel, and herb flavors. A complex wine, it pleases from first sip to last. DCV is widely distributed and this bottle has an SRP of $35.

Windsor Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

Alexander Valley is the most inland part of Sonoma County and the summer heat and the cooling influence of the Russian River combine to make it a perfect spot for robust reds. Wine grapes have been grown in this special corner of Sonoma County since 1846.

If you are planning a steak dinner for your romantic dinner, this is the ideal pick. Black currant, plum and cocoa flavors highlight this wine which has soft tannins and touches of dark cherry and vanilla on the finish. Part of Windsor’s Platinum Series, it is $30 and available from the Windsor Vineyards website.

Woodward Canyon 2018 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley

We have a hunch that Merlot might be the biggest-seller for Valentine’s Day. The Merlot grape is known as being soft and, well, romantic. Woodward Canyon was the second winery in Washington’s famed Walla Walla Valley and produces premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends.

This is a sophisticated 100% Merlot from the westernmost vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. It includes an "old vines" block that is now 23 years old. It has a nose of plum and cooked fruit that gives way to tastes of spice and black cherry with leather and oak. A sensational wine priced at $52.

Full disclaimer: These wines were received as marketing samples.

New Cameron Hughes Wines Deliver Half Price And Full Value

We scoffed when we were told these premium reds were half-price. Then we opened the bottles…

Cracking The Quality-Price Code

We’ve known Cameron Hughes for quite a few years. The brand never fails to surprise – in a good way.

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If you’re not familiar with Cameron Hughes Wine, the first thing to know is that Cameron Hughes is a négociant, not a winery or even a vineyard. A négociant is a merchant who buys and sells wine. This is a common thing in Europe, but is perhaps unfamiliar here in the States.

Cameron Hughes focuses on sourcing the very best wine and negotiating the most favorable price. The name of the source winery is undisclosed to protect the brand. As a result, Cameron Hughes Wine can obtain $100 Cabernet Sauvignon and sell it for a third of the price, or offer a $60 Pinot Noir for less than $20. Sounds like a great concept to me, an avid wine consumer.

We recently popped open three new releases, billed as half-price reds. That and the fact that they come from three of our favorite regions certainly piqued our interest.

A Lot Of Lots

Each of the wines is given a lot number, and the first lot we liked – a lot. That was Lot 730, the 2018 Zinfandel from Lodi. We enjoyed this on the patio after a socially-distant wine dinner with friends.

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Lodi is the epicenter of the Zinfandel world and, in our humble opinion, produces the very best Zinfandel wines. It also produces a lot of Zin, some of which is the grocery store variety. If you look carefully, you’ll find the specially crafted wine, like Lot 730.

This is fruity on the nose, but the palate reveals depth with layers of plum, raspberry and leather. This is a dry wine with a velvety texture and a very long finish. The wine was aged for a year in French oak.

The SRP is $13, half of what you would pay at the source winery. It’s a small release with 1,500 cases.

We love big Cabs and we cannot lie. Occasionally, though, we pine for something that’s not from Napa. We found our answer with Lot 735, a 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is a unique California AVA in that it has both coastline and mountains. In addition, the mountains and valleys run east-west as opposed to north-south.

Lot 735 is an outstanding Cab value, priced at $16, and again this is half of winery price. Santa Barbara is known more for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir than Cabernet, but this is a shining example of mid-to-full-bodied Cab. The winemaker has French and American training and the grapes come from high-elevation vineyards.

A Pinot That Cuts Pricing, Not Corners

Russian River Valley is one of the world’s greatest Pinot Noir regions. Located in California’s Sonoma County, it gets maritime breezes and morning fog, ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

We returned to our patio firepit and uncorked the bottle of Lot 729, a 2018 Pinot from RRV. This gem is also priced at $16, half the price of its cousins at the winery. From the first sip, we knew this was a winner.

There is a complex nose of earth and strawberries. On the palate there are layers of cranberry and savory flavors. A pinch of spice and playful acidity frame a balanced wine. The mouthfeel is velvety.

These latest releases from Cameron Hughes show that it is possible to find 90+ rated wines for less than $20. We hope that he continues to work his magic. Cameron Hughes wines can be found only online.

Full Disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Castoro Cellars 2015 Zinfandel, Paso Robles

This California winery takes its earth-friendly commitment to the next level.

Castoro In California

Paso Robles, the fastest-growing wine region in California, is known for Rhone-style blends and big, bombastic reds. So I was intrigued when we received this bottle of 2015 Estate Zinfandel from Castoro Cellars. It would be my first taste of a Zin from Paso.

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Zinfandel styles can range all over the map. There are jammy fruit bombs, often with catchy names playing on “Zin” and on the other end you have sublime Old Vines Zinfandels with nuanced and delicate flavors. Where would Castoro weigh in?

I liked Castoro even before opening the bottle. The winery was established in 1983 by Niels and Bim­mer Udsen. It has more than 1,400 acres of estate vineyards which are certified organic and also SIP certified (which evaluates a vineyard’s sustainability practices). In fact, Castoro is Paso Robles’ first 100% certified sustainable vineyards and winery

The sustainability commitment includes solar power. The winery has 42 solar panels at their Cobble Creek vineyard and even more on the roof of their events room. The coolest aspect of their environmental program is the Sun Powered Summer Concert Series. The con­certs are run com­plete­ly on solar pow­er pro­vid­ed by a mobile solar gen­er­a­tor.

Tale of The Glass

As strongly as we support care for the environment, the wine still must be good. We poured the Castoro and our glasses were filled with a deep midnight purple.

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The wine is 77% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah and 4% Barbera. Petite Sirah adds an inky depth to the wine color. The addition of Barbera makes this an uncommon blend, adding an Italian grape to a mix of Bordeaux and what is thought of as the “most American” grape – although Italy’s Primitivo and Zinfandel are in reality the same.

Only 400 cases of this Zin were produced, a very small production run. The taste, however, is quite big. At 14.5% ABV, it is on par with the alcohol content of some very big Napa Cabs.

In order to allow the wine to settle down, we decanted it. There is plenty of fruit in the glass with jammy flavors of black cherry and earthiness. Although a big wine, it is smooth and the tannins provide support in the background.

At $16 to $20, this is a Zinfandel to savor. You can rest easy knowing your sip is SIP certified.

Technorati Tags: zinfandel,California wine,wine tasting

Rodney Strong 2015 Upshot, Sonoma County

This red blend from Sonoma packs a surprise. A white grape is part of the mix. Can you guess which one?

Rodney Strong Upshot - Photo by Dave Nershi

Dance Of The Grapes

Rodney Strong Vineyards began 55 years ago when celebrated American dancer Rodney Strong embarked on a second creative endeavor: winemaking. Through the years Rodney Strong has earned recognition for exceptional single vineyard and reserve wines. Though its portfolio covers the high end quite nicely, Rodney Strong recently debuted a reasonably-priced, fun red blend – Upshot.

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By my reckoning, the majority of US red blends are Bordeaux-style blends made mostly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

The percentages of each will vary and other grapes will be added in too. In California there is a wealth of Zinfandel, the closest thing we have to an “American” grape (although it’s actually an ancient Croatian variety). The upshot of this is, well, wines like Upshot.

And The Mystery Grape Is…

The Zinfandel for Upshot comes from Rodney Strong’s Hubbard Ranch vineyard. It makes up 44% of the blend with 29% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Riesling. All the grapes are from Sonoma County, with the majority from Alexander Valley and Knights Valley.

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Surprising to us was the addition of Riesling, a white grape. Some of the finest Rhone wines are made with Syrah with a dash of the white Viognier. In this case, the Riesling adds the fun and some floral aromatics. This also contributes to a silky texture.

On the palate Upshot is rich with dark cherry notes and black fruit. There is a bit of spice. Upshot has a healthy 14.5% ABV, which contributes to a full body. The tannins are dialed back and the finish is lingering.

For a $28 SRP, this is a slice of the good life in California’s wine country. Upshot is a tremendous choice to pleasantly surprise guests at the next dinner party – or to pop open for some casual sipping if you can’t wait that long.

Technorati Tags: wine,Sonoma,California wine,Zinfandel

Dry Creek Vineyard 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Kicking The New Year Off Right!

There was quite a bit of commotion around the house for the holidays. Starting right before Christmas we had a steady stream of family house guests. Our ensemble included three dogs – one of our own plus two guest pooches.

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New Year’s Eve featured a soirée with guitars blazing, munchies being munched and a score of party-goers ringing in 2019. Plenty of sparkling and white wine was consumed, but only one red wine was featured: Dry Creek Vineyard’s 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel.

It was a sterling selection! Not only is Dry Creek Vineyard an outstanding producer of Old Vine Zinfandel, they actually coined the term “old vine” back in 1987. The Dry Creek Valley region of Sonoma produces some of the best Zin in California.

An old vine vineyard is one that has vines more than 50 years old. In the case of the Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vine Zin, the vines are all 95 years or older, some nearly 130 years old! The older the vine, the fewer grapes produced – but each grape has concentrated flavors sought for the very best bottles of wine.

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The OVZ from Dry Creek is a delight. Adding to the complexity of the wine is 19% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignane. The flavors are lush black cherry and dark chocolate with just the right nip of baking spice. This is a new release, but it features rounded tannins and a rapturous finish that goes on and on.

The SRP for this bottle is $35 – a nice value for such a flavorful experience. We rate this bottle highly. It was nice to sip in the party’s aftermath as we reflected on a year that seemed to go by so quickly and looked forward to a new year. Cheers to you. We wish you many delicious experiences in 2019.

Technorati Tags: Zinfandel,California wine,Dry Creek Valley,wine tasting,Sonoma

Exitus 2016 Red Wine, California

There’s a new entry in the Bourbon-barrel aged beverage market. We uncork Exitus to test the merits of the new offering.

Something Old, Something New

There is a buzz – in more ways than one – about Bourbon-barrel aged beverages these days. There are a multitude of Bourbon-barrel aged craft beers. Aging reds in Bourbon barrels has also launched several successful wines.

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We’ve also seen white wines aged in Bourbon barrels. Some whiskey makers have also flipped the tables by aging their spirits in old wine barrels. It seems like the latest trend – but it isn’t exactly.

The cost of oak wine barrels can run anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 or more depending on the producer and whether it is American or French oak. It’s easy to see that oak barrel aging can be quite expensive. Decades ago, some small wine producers would buy much cheaper used Bourbon barrels to age their wine. Score one for Mrs. Alba, my 6th grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary, whose favorite saying was, “There is nothing new under the sun!”

What is new, though, is that winemakers are now using Bourbon barrels to introduce new flavors into wine specifically blended to marry with the dark smoky notes that BBA (Bourbon barrel aging) brings. Exitus is a case in point.

To Exitus With Tradition

Exitus is a Zinfandel-based red blend that includes Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is produced by O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, one of the largest wine and brandy producers in California. It’s portfolio includes Robert Hall and Austerity  wines, among others.

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The marketing theme of Exitus is, “To Hell With Tradition.” Its bottle certainly breaks with wine packaging norms. It is clear glass, unlike the dark greens and ambers typically used for red wine to limit exposure to light. There is no foil capsule on the top of the bottle. Instead, there is a seal-like sticker like you might find on a bourbon bottle.

Below the main label is a rectangular one listing the “batch” number, year and noting that the wine is aged for three months. Again, this label is a nod to what your might find on a small batch bourbon. The main Exitus label is gold lettered on a dark brown background and brings to mind a craft beverage.

It’s a very cool package and we were anxious to uncork.

Imbibing The Bourbon Barrel Blend

Raise your hand if this has happened to you. You uncork a wine that from all outside appearances should be world-changing, only to disappointed by what was inside.Would that be the case with Exitus?

Exitus considers itself a “badass” wine. We agree. Unlike other BBA wines we’ve had that proffer a smidgeon of Bourbon taste, Exitus is a wine for Bourbon lovers. From the first sip, the Bourbon flavor is out front.

Even without the Bourbon barrel aging, this is a big wine. It weighs in with 15.9% alcohol. I don’t recall drinking an unfortified wine with more alcohol content. That being said, it sill has some great dark berry flavor with touches of earth and spice. The BBA adds caramel, smoke and toasted oak to the party. It’s a tasty value at about $20.

This isn’t a wine for wimps. It is perfect for those seeking adventure in their wine drinking. Chances are if you serve this at your next party, guests will be headed to the Exitus, not the exits. 

Full Disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Zinfandel,California wine,Bourbon barrel aged wine,wine tasting

Latest Dry Creek Vineyard Releases Offer Crisp Refreshment, Refined Flavors

A trio of new releases from Sonoma’s Dry Creek Vineyards has something for almost every palate.

We recently had the chance to “test drive” three new wines from one of our favorite wineries, Dry Creek Vineyards. They each are very different wines, but each caused us to return to the bottle for a refill.

2017 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

We had planned a special wine dinner in honor of friends visiting from out of town. I originally planned some big reds, but blistering hot weather changed our plans. We opted for some light, summery food and wine.

We paired the 2017 Dry Chenin Blanc with Potato & Wild Salmon Cakes with Ginger, Scallions and Dill Sauce. It was accompanied by a spinach salad with strawberries, blueberries and toasted hazelnuts.

Dry Creek Vineyards has produced dry Chenin Blanc every year since the winery was founded in 1972. This is a bracing, crisp white wine. Stainless steel fermentation keeps the flavors of pear and green apple fresh. It’s lively and a spot-on pairing with seafood of any sort. SRP is $15.

2017 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

We love Fumé Blanc, a handle used for some Sauvignon Blanc in California. Priced at $15, this is one of our favorite QPR (quality price ratio) wines. In short, you’re getting a great value that’s sure to please. This Sonoma version of Sauvignon Blanc has bright lemon and grapefruit flavors without over-the-top acidity. (I’m talking to you, Marlborough!)

We enjoyed this bottle on a warm evening on the patio. Winery founder David Stare was the first person to plant Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley – and now it is the most widely planted white grape in the region. Mouthwatering flavors and a nice minerality!

2015 Old Vine Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

It’s hard to believe, but true. Dry Creek Vineyard first coined the term “Old Vine” in 1987. Those are two words we love to hear – especially attached to Zinfandel. Old Vine vineyards are usually defined as averaging more than 50 years of age. For this particular bottling, the vines are more than 95 years in age and in some cases, more than 110 years old.

Why does that matter? As vines age, they produce fewer grapes. In the counterintuitive world of winemaking, that’s a good thing. Since there are fewer grapes, each receives a greater concentration of flavor. This bottle has 76% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. It is a delightful example of Zinfandel at its best.

This is a refined drinking experience with layers of cranberries, raspberry and cocoa. We detected a bit of spice and pepper on the finish. It is aged 16 months in French, American and Hungarian with 27% new oak. The aging regimen gives added complexity.

The 2015 Old Vine Zinfandel is a winning wine for any occasion. It retails for $35 with a production of 2,200 cases. It’s a wine we highly recommend.

Full Disclosure: We received these wines as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Zinfandel,Chenin Blanc,Sauvignon Blanc,Dry Creek Valley,Sonoma,California wine

Dry Creek Vineyard 2016 Vintage Yields Winning Pair

Looking for surefire wine selections for your next soirée? Here are a couple of California wines certain to please the crowd and not break the bank.

DCV Estate Block 10 Chardonnay

Our two wines come from Dry Creek Vineyards, a favorite winery in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. They are located in the Dry Creek Valley appellation, where they are celebrating their 45th anniversary as a private family owned winery. For this first wine, they source the grapes from 30 rows of their Russian River Valley property. RRV is known for producing some of the best Chardonnay in California.

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The cool climate allows the vineyard to ripen slowly, resulting in deliciously balanced grapes. The grapes are gently cluster pressed resulting in complex aromas and flavors. The wine is aged in 100% French oak, 22% new. Just over 1,200 cases of the DCV Estate Block 10 Chardonnay was produced.

Balance is the key with this Chardonnay. The judicious use of oak blends with apple, citrus and honeysuckle flavors. There is a nice riff of pineapple as well, and looking at my photo, I notice that the pineapple on our counter actually shows through the bottle. Purely accidental, but a great visual reminder of the taste.

This is a classy Chardonnay ready to uncork at your next party. SRP is $32.

Heritage Vines Zinfandel

Are you ready to graduate from cartoon labels with jammy juice inside? Then step up to a winning Zinfandel that delivers on both flavor and value – the 2016 Heritage Vines Zinfandel.

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Dry Creek Vineyards is known for their dedication to the Zinfandel variety. We love Heritage Vines Zin because it melds the old and new. Cuttings from a pre-Prohibition era vineyard were grafted onto young, disease-resistant rootstock, creating an heirloom or heritage vine.

The Heritage Vines Zin is a blend of 79% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah and 1% Primitivo from Sonoma County. Aging is done in French, American and Hungarian oak. It offers a swirl of dark chocolate and fruit berries with a rich, round texture. There is no edge to the tannins, just a refreshing fruit forward glass.

Do you really want a bottle with a great pun on the label – or one with great wine inside? I think you know the answer. Heritage Vines Zinfandel is widely available at $24.

Full disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Zinfandel,Sonoma,wine tasting,wine,Chardonnay,Dry Creek Valley

Lambert Bridge: A Dry Creek Valley Winery Visit

Nestled into the redwood forested hills just west of Dry Creek we discovered a haven for wine lovers and an epicenter for magnificent Bordeaux-style red wines.

Number 1 Tip For Locating Great Wineries

When we are exploring wine regions we spend a lot of time in advance studying maps, researching online and trying to figure out which wineries to visit. In some regions, like California’s wine country of Napa and Sonoma, there are more than 100 wineries and we may only have time to visit a handful (or two).

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We’ve found that the most dependable tip for a great winery visit doesn’t come from a glossy brochure or a blinking computer screen. It comes from the recommendations of others during your travels. We often ask the winemaker, tasting room staff or new friends we meet on the wine trail for their recommendations on which wineries to visit next. Hyperbole from websites and magazines is one thing – but the word of mouth recommendation from someone who has been there trumps it all.

Such was the case during our recent visit to Sonoma where we discovered a truly great winery in Dry Creek Valley, Lambert Bridge. The recommendation for Lambert Bridge came from the marketing director at Dry Creek Vineyard. When we finished our visit there we loaded into the van following a her hot tip.

Lambert Bridge Experience

The Lambert Bridge winery grounds are scenic and tranquil. Sitting in front of the stone and wood winery building is a perfectly restored vintage Ford panel van.
When we walked into the tasting room, it was like entering a wine sanctuary. The décor features rustic wood finishes, soaring ceilings and a beautiful stone fireplace. We were greeted by J.P Lonergan, the estate sommelier.

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The winery is named for the nearby trestle bridge which spans Dry Creek. Dry Creek Valley has long been a favorite of ours and is home to some amazing California wine minus the hype of Napa Valley. The C.L. Lambert family settled the area a century ago. Six decades later, Jerry Lambert (no relation) was drawn to the land with winemaking in mind. In 1993 Ray and Patti Chambers purchased the winery with the goal of crafting Sonoma’s best small lot wines.

During the wine country wild fires in October 2017, Lambert Bridge avoided major fire or smoke damage. Thankfully, 90% of the harvest was in, although a full block was lost in the Moon Mountain AVA. Some staff members had to evacuate and the entire region was impacted in one way or another. JP displayed a blob of metal melted by the intense heat of the fires that damaged property and took lives, but couldn’t overcome the spirt of the wine community.

Spot-On, Sophisticated Wines

As we soaked in the great surroundings of what some people call “the wine church” we were ready to soak in some great wine. We led off with a pair of whites, the 2015 Bevill Vineyard Viognier and the 2014 Sonoma Chardonnay, which had luscious apple and pear flavors.

Lambert Bridge is known for their meticulous focus on quality, with a berry-by-berry sorter, small-lot fermenters and premium French oak barrels. The quality shows brightly in their lineup of reds.

We tasted a trio of Zinfandel:

• 2014 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel – Cherry and spice with dark fruit. Has 2% Petite Sirah. SRP – $50
• 2015 Meyers Vineyard Zinfandel – Nice pepper and brambly fruit. Well balanced.
• 2013 Forchini Zinfandel – From a benchland vineyard with gravelly soil. Wild raspberry and bright acidity. SRP – $60.
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The wines made with the traditional Bordeaux grapes were elegant and flavorful, with not a bad drop between them. We sampled the 2012 Merlot, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2014 Cabernet Franc.

Three powerhouse reds closed our tasting:

• 2013 Winery Ranch Vineyard Petite Sirah – This inky dark wine has deep blackberry flavors and is a perfect pairing for roasted meats. A wonderful bargain at $55.
• 2012 Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon – Baked cherries and spice swirl in this limited production wine. SRP $110.
• 2013 Crane Creek Cuvée – This signature wine is 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. A delicious, ripe blend with sophisticated flavors. SRP $110.
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Lambert Bridge is a small-production winery with craftsmanship that dazzles. Consider this your insider tip: Make it a “must see” stop on your next trip to Sonoma wine country.

Technorati Tags: wine,Sonoma,wine country,winery visit,Dry Creek Valley,Zinfandel,Cabernet Sauvignon,winelover

Pedroncelli Winery Marks 90 Years of Quality and Innovation

During the last 90 years Pedroncelli Winery has forged a reputation for “firsts” that have quenched our thirsts.

A Family Tradition

In 1927 Giovanni and Julia Pedroncelli purchased a shuttered winery, a vineyard and a home.
Working together they initiated a family business which has spanned four generations.

They have quite a few “firsts” to their credit, including the first rosé from Zinfandel, putting Sonoma County on the label and the first in the region to plant Cabernet Sauvignon.

We were eager to “uncork” the Pedroncelli Winery during our recent Wine Studio educational session.

Making “Friends” With Sonoma County

Our first Pedroncelli wine was the approachable 2017 friends.white Sonoma County white blend. The winery offers both a red and white blend designed to be casual and easy drinking fare.

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The Green Dragon prepared a tasting menu to enjoy this white wine. We had grilled chicken breast with a teriyaki ginger glaze and fresh pineapple and Fresno pepper sauce accompanied by purple potatoes with an herbed Feta topping.

I unscrewed the top and poured a couple of glasses. Two things struck me. First, the cap has a smiling “old school” emoji of a winking smile (which is also on the label). Second, After I set down the bottle, there was a playful gaggle of large bubbles in the bottle that caused me to smile.

friends.white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. The two grapes are balanced nicely. To start, Friends is focused on the Sauvignon Blanc, with nice rounded tropical fruit notes. It was only later that the Gewürztraminer hallmark floral aroma and flavors began to surface.

friends.white is an enjoyable casual wine that paired nicely with our unique chicken dish. This is a great $14 buy!

A Visit From “Mother”

Our exploration of Pedroncelli vino continued with the 2015 “Mother Clone” Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley. This is a wine we are familiar with, tasting it first when we bought a bottle while volunteering at the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland.

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The Pedroncelli historic Zinfandel vineyards were first planted to the grape in 1904. A second generation was cloned from these old vines and replanted block by block starting in the 1980s. Fruit from the new vineyard along with a small amount of fruit from the remaining over 100-year-old vines make up Mother Clone Zin.

This wine, priced at $19, is one of the best Zinfandel bargains out there. There are many “gimmick” Zinfandels, with labels that play off “Zin” and “sin,” glutting the market. Mother Clone, though, is the real deal. It delivers Dry Creek Valley goodness at an amazing price.

Speaking of amazing, Green Dragon prepared a tasty meal to accompany our Zin. We enjoyed sliced filet of beef with a Zinfandel and mushroom reduction sauce served with a spinach, avocado, bacon and egg salad.
Mother Clone Zin is an enjoyable mélange of red and black berries accented with spice notes. It has 14.9% alcohol, but the tannins and acidity balance so well that there is no “heat” to this sipper. 

Broiled meat and Mother Clone is a great pairing. It’s a great wine solo, as well. In fact, this is not only high on the QPR (quality price ratio) list, but is a wine that is sure to be enjoyed by a wide spectrum of your friends. No special wine knowledge is needed to appreciate this Zin.
Pedroncelli also has a line of small lot and vineyard designated wines as well as reserve and limited production wines. We haven’t yet tasted these, but give them a hearty recommendation based on the two we sampled from their entry level.

Ninety years and going strong, the Pedroncelli roots run deep. We encourage you to pick up a bottle or two and get to know the family.

Technorati Tags: Zinfandel,Dry Creek Valley,Sonoma,wine

1000 Stories Focuses On Artisan Bourbon Barrel Aged Wine

Finding a Bourbon barrel aged wine is easy. Finding a Bourbon barrel aged wine done right is another story all together. As we discovered, 1000 Stories is mastering the craft.

Bourbon and Wine: A Perfect Marriage?

For imbibing, wine is our beverage of choice. When we start talking about spirits, we are lovers of Bourbon. The pairing of the two, via Bourbon barrel aging of wine, is a technique we whole-heartedly endorse. Just using Bourbon barrels, however, doesn’t transform a so-so wine into an amazing one. Even with a good wine, if the aging process isn’t done properly, it can turn it into a dud.

When the lineup for this month’s Wine Studio educational program was announced, we were pleased to see an opportunity to taste and discuss 1000 Stories. We first sipped and enjoyed 1000 Stories during the Wine Bloggers Conference last fall in Sonoma. That was a “speed tasting” and we looked forward to trying the wine in a more relaxed setting.

Bison Burger Stampede!

The Green Dragon usually checks with me when we do a Wine Studio tasting. We typically enjoy the featured wines with a specially paired meal early in the evening, since the Wine Studio “Twitter talk” doesn’t start until 9 PM. When she asked me for a suggested pairing, there was no hesitation: “bison burger!”

The 1000 Stories features a bold bison on the label and a the robust flavor of a Zinfandel or Petite Sirah would pair dreamily with a juicy burger, no matter how the wine is aged.

The resulting meal was a gourmet Bleu Cheese Stuffed Bison Burgers with caramelized onions on brioche bun, herb sautéed zucchini ribbons and hand-cut Yukon Gold frites kissed with truffle oil.
This was a culinary work of art that I admired for several long seconds before wanting to devour it!

A Powerful Pair Of Wines

Winemaker Bob Blue points out that using Bourbon barrels to age wine is nothing new. When he was starting out as a winemaker, it was almost unheard of to get French oak barrels for wine and American oak barrels were for whisky, not wine. Barrels were still needed, so he purchased new and used Bourbon barrels. “Today, American and French oak wine barrels are commonplace,” says Blue, “so the inspiration for 1000 Stories is a nod to the way things were.”

1000 Stories currently offers two wines, the 2015 Zinfandel Batch 038 with a California appellation, and the 2015 Half Batch Petite Sirah from Lake County. Both are priced at $18.99 and have a potent alcohol content of more than 15%.

The 1000 Stories Zinfandel is a very good one. Dry farmed Zin grapes from Mendocino County, Lodi and Paso Robles form the basis for this wine, which also has a dash of Lake County Petite Sirah. The wine is first aged in traditional American and French oak barrels – which introduces smoke and vanilla flavors. The wine then is introduced to new Bourbon barrels. This adds another layer of complexity, with roasted caramel and spice notes. This wine had an enjoyable toasted flavor.

The Half Batch Petite Sirah is a bombastic wine, with intense fruit.
This small lot wine has 83% Petite Sirah, 12% Zinfandel and 5% Syrah. The Half Batch moniker comes from selecting 100 of the best Bourbon barrels, half the amount of barrels used on their Zinfandel.

This is a big bodacious wine that has fruit and savory notes. Blackberry, raisin and smoke flavors mix together in this big wine. This needs time to decant and settle down .

Were we trampled by the 1000 Stories buffalo? Maybe just a bit, but in a way where we appreciated the power and finesse of well crafted wine. They paired magnificently with our bison burgers and Bleu cheese.

These wines would earn our favor even without the Bourbon barrel aging, but the BBA, done in just the right way, adds complexity and a unique “story.” You’ll enjoy telling it again and again!

Technorati Tags: Lodi wine,Zinfandel,Bourbon barrel aged wine,Petite Sirah,wine,California wine

Dry Creek Vineyard Trio Delivers Taste And Value

Three new releases from one of our favorite Sonoma producers score high in QPR. For the uninitiated, this is Quality Price Ratio – or maybe the wine lover’s Holy Grail.

An Intro To QPR

One of the most important concepts in wine buying, at least according to the tasting team at Vino-Sphere, is QPR. Quality Price Ratio basically is your scorecard as to whether you made a good purchase or a bad one.

A good Oregon Pinot Gris for which you pay $15 may have higher QPR than a 90+ rated single vineyard Cab from Paso Robles – if you paid $200 for it. It boils down to how much wine enjoyment you are getting for your dollar.

You might pay $35 for  two bottles of wine – one might have a tremendous QPR, and the other rock bottom. Which brings me to the focus for today – a winery that is always coming through with wines that ring the bell with great QPR: Dry Creek Vineyard.

Enter The Mariner

The Mariner is a high-end Meritage (Bordeaux-style blend) from Dry Creek Vineyard. Dry Creek Vineyard is located in Dry Creek Valley, a magical sub-region of Sonoma in California. At $45 this is a premium bottle for which you might expect to pay double if it came from Napa. The Mariner rocks a great QPR!

The blend for the 2013 vintage is 54% cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Franc. These are the five “noble” Bordeaux varieties. It delivers velvety flavors of blueberry, dark fruit and some vanilla. It is aged 20 months in French and Hungarian oak, adding to the complexity.

I recently organized a Beer versus Wine social event and The 2013 Mariner sailed to the rescue. Attendees could sample The Mariner for a small (or large) donation to help prevent child abuse. One sip and donations were flowing like the incoming tide. Not only is that QPR, but GBC (giving back to the community)!

A “Zinful” Pair

Zinfandel is a signature grape in Dry Creek Valley, and Dry Creek Vineyard produces some standout bottles. We recently sampled their 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel and the 2015 Heritage Vines Zinfandel.
Old Vine Zinfandel is an uncommon treat. While the grocery stores may be flooded with California Zin, those made from old vines are on another level in terms of flavor, complexity and winemaker craft. The DCV Old Vine Zinfandel is made with vines that average 95 years in age with some more than 110 years old. As the vines grow, they produce fewer grapes, but each grape is exploding with concentrated flavor.

The OVZ has bold berry and plum flavors and an aroma that says “this is going to be good” even before the first sip. This wine has aging potential, but is ready to provide a pleasurable experience right now. Look for the spicy notes that are a hallmark for these old vines. This is a solid value at $32.

DCV’s 2015 Heritage Vines Zinfandel is a leader in QPR with a retail price of just $22. Dry Creek Vineyard has been an innovator in Zinfandel production including their heritage vines project. Pre-Prohibition era vineyard cuttings were grafted onto pest-resistant rootstock starting in 1982. The result is “young vine” wine with “old vine” characteristics.

We appreciate the winegrowing craft that was used. Most important to us, though, is that this is an amazingly delicious wine at a shockingly good price. Raspberries, cherries, cocoa all dance in this rich, smooth wine. Heritage Vines Zinfandel includes 20% Petite Sirah and 1% Carignane, adding to the allure.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

The Federalist 2014 Dueling Pistols, Dry Creek Valley

On July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton was shot in a duel by Aaron Burr and died from his injuries. Dueling Pistols wine uses no gunpowder but does have a nice kick.

Grapes Instead Of Guns

This has been one contentious political season. Ohio is considered a battleground state, so we were under constant assault by a barrage of political ads – television, internet, radio, mailers, you name it.

While I listed to music on Spotify, President Obama even put in a plug for Hillary. With the depths of incivility displayed during the campaign, we’re lucky Trump and Clinton didn’t “go all Aaron Burr” on each other and demand a duel.

Federalist Vineyards is owned and managed by Terlato Wines. The brand features historic images of great Americans such as Hamilton, the most famous Federalist in US history. Federalist focuses on estate grown wines with an emphasis on Zinfandel.

Although the label displays a pair of dueling pistols, the only dueling going on is between grapes. The wine is a 50-50 blend of Zinfandel and Syrah.

Fire When Ready!

The grapes come from one of our favorite wine regions, Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. The vineyards are just off the Russian River shore.

The Zin and the Syrah are fermented separately and free run juice is used. Free run is considered the best ingredient of wine, as opposed to the juice that comes later from pressing the skins and seeds, which can add harsher flavor. Dueling Pistols also undergoes malolactic fermentation where malic acid is converted to lactic acid resulting in nice soft flavors.

Aging is 20% new American and Hungarian oak barrels. This adds some complexity without making it unapproachable. On the palate, I consider it bold yet smooth. Both Syrah and Zinfandel can be assertive or mellow, depending on the winemaker. In this case there is enough adventure in the glass to be entertaining without any harsh edges that might offput some drinkers.

I’ve never considered Zinfandel and Syrah a natural pairing, like Syrah and Grenache or Cabernet and Merlot, but each glass is helping to change my mind. Dueling Pistols shows that it certainly works and the interplay between the grape duo provides a lot of bang for a $17.76 SRP.

Full Disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.