Wines and Beyond

Red Wine by Renwood from Sierra Foothills, California. The flamboyant, fragrant 2004 Zinfandel Grandmere (2,000 cases produced) boasts plenty of berry fruit, pepper, spice, and earth as well as loads of glycerin, a voluptuous texture, and a heady, pure, rich finish. It will drink well for 3-4 years. -Wine Advocate A deep garnet red with brick tones on the edge. The aroma of this wine welcomes the drinker with its soft, yet complex fruit. Blackberry and holiday spice mid-palate essences balance the wine as it finishes with a rich texture of vanilla and dark red fruits. The full bodied tannin structure is built for a lasting finish. Our Grandmere Zinfandel represents a blend of the finest Zinfandel vineyards that reside throughout the hillsides of Amador County's gold country. These vineyards provide us with fruit from ancient vines. We choose the name Grandmere (or Grandmother) because fruit from these vineyards result in a wine that is consistently warm and friendly, gracefully mature and immediately inviting.

Red Wine by Sineann from Columbia Valley, Washington. Our flagship wine. It is the oldest producing vineyard in the Pacific Northwest at nearly 100 years old. Every year it makes either the best wine we put out or very close to it. In 2006 we picked at 26 Brix, cropping at under two tons per acre. The wine is dark and immensely concentrated. To those who wonder if Zinfandel can be ripened outside of California, we offer this example. Not only does Zinfandel ripen on this old vineyard, it maintains balancing acidity to produce a wine that ages beautifully.

Red Wine by Montevina from Sierra Foothills, California. Blackberry flavors are spiked by black pepper. Petite Sirah adds a little tannin, plenty of rich blue-black color and black fig spice. Barbera lightens up the mix with red plum and red cherry juicy fruit. There is also a fourth dimension of exotic sandalwood, vanilla, cola and smoky meatiness. The structure, depth, and complexity of this wine leads itself perfectly to an herb crusted leg of lamb, spiced couscous, and roasted root vegetables.

Red Wine by Grgich Hills from Napa Valley, California. Grgich Hills ages their Zinfandel in large oak casks so the flavors are well integrated but not overwhelmed by oak. The result is an irresistible mix of strawberries and raspberries with a hint of allspice that keeps evolving as the wine sits in the glass. Nicely balanced between acidity and alcohol, this medium-bodied Zinfandel's forward fruit and soft tannins make it a great match with grilled meats, pizza and pastas with tomato sauce.

Red Wine by Ridge from Sonoma County, California. Blend: 77% Zinfandel, 17% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignane This elegant, full-bodied wine, with its firm tannins and intense, complex fruit, is among the finest of recent vintages. Enjoyable now, it will develop further over the next ten years.

Red Wine by Seghesio from Sonoma County, California. Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel perfectly embodies their family's goal of sharing uncommon ground as only the finest lots from their oldest vineyards are selected for this composite blend. Pomegranate minerality. Deep flavors of briery underbrush and spicy sweet raspberry and cherry Nuances of fine toasted French oak. Juicy acidity contributes to texture and richness Expressive old vine purity of fruit. The underlying structure and ripe tannins from old vines provide synergy and length. Food pairings: Beef, pasta with red sauce, barbecue, spicy cuisine

Red Wine by Ridge from Sonoma County, California. 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro After fourteen months in barrel, the wine is fully integrated. Elegant tannins and intense fruit make it enjoyable now; it will be best over the next eight to ten years.

Red Wine by Grgich Hills from Napa Valley, California. Blend: 88% Zinfandel, 12% Petite Sirah This darkly colored wine almost glows in the glass with lively flavors and aromas of strawberries, raspberries, with a touch of forest floor and leather. There is also a bit of Petite Sirah grown at this vineyard, which was co-fermented with the Zinfandel to add even more spice and body. This elegant wine has a wonderful texture and is well balanced between acidity and alcohol. Enjoy with grilled meats, pizza and pastas.

Red Wine by Renwood from Sierra Foothills, California. The block called Jack Rabbit Flat Zinfandel comes from the Fox Creek Vineyard, which is one of the classic ancient vineyards of Amador County that was planted over 80 years ago. This immaculately maintained vineyard gives the head-trained vines the ability to ripen to maximum potential. Thus, the fruit is picked at the highest degree of ripeness, resulting in a wine of great richness and complexity. The 2003 Jack Rabbit Flat Zinfandel is a dark ruby color that offers powerful jammy fruit characters of blackberry, cherry and plum with peppercorn and black pepper. On the palate, aromas of berry fruit and flavors of blackberry jam, cherry, white pepper, cocoa, mocha and blueberry that linger through the finish. This wine finishes with vanilla and hints of cedar and oak.

Red Wine by Ravenswood from Sonoma County, California. The mostly old vines that make up our Teldeschi are Zinfandel, Carignane and Petite Sirah, a melange typical of older vineyard plantings in California. The three varieties are fermented separately and blended to taste. Native yeast fermentation, small open-top fermenters, manual punching down of the cap, minimal processing and aging in small French oak cooperage all contribute to a style that brings out the best of the vineyard, power and big flavors.This 2003 Teldeschi Zinfandel has huge, jammy, inky, slightly porty aromas infused with black pepper, vanilla and hints of tar, smoke and coffee blend. A very broad, intense wine with huge fruit, lots of those luscious Dry Creek bing cherry and sweet plum characters. Another fabulous Dry Creek benchland zinfandel.

Red Wine by Dashe from Sonoma County, California. Dashe doesn't know why the Zinfandel vines at the Big River Ranch - just a few miles southeast of the town of Healdsburg - produce such inky-black, concentrated wines, but they certainly recognized from the start that this vineyard was sure to produce one of their very best Zinfandels. These head-trained vines on the rocky, red, steep slopes consistently produce a huge wine: thick, flavorful, and seductively rich. By combining this Zinfandel with a small amount of Petite Sirah from vines on the same ranch, Dashe was able to create a small amount of a wine that they feel is one of their most stylish and balanced, as well as mouth-filling, creations.

Red Wine by Ridge from Napa Valley, California. Blend: 89% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah York Creek Vineyard lies high on Spring Mountain, overlooking Napa Valley. The 2005 growing season began late; foul April weather disrupted bloom and set, substantially reducing the crop, but consistent summer weather enabled Ridge to harvest, as usual, in late September. Grapes from the individual parcels were destemmed, then crushed to seven small tanks-three with grids submerging the cap of skins, four with cap floating. Natural fermentation began within three days, they pressed on the eighth; only a small amount of press wine was included. Following a brief uninoculated malolactic, the separate lots were racked to fifty-three-gallon air-dried american oak barrels to begin aging. By May, Ridge had assembled the most distinctive of these, returning them to barrel for further aging as a blend. Every three months, the wine was carefully drawn off its settled lees to achieve clarity. A mix of new, two-, and four-year-old oak allows vineyard and varietal character to dominate. This appealing Zinfandel is redolent of York Creek's well-defined mountain fruit. Enjoyable now, it will continue to develop over the next five to six years. 11% Petite Sirah. Solidly fruity right from the start with touches of caramel and new leather overlying its essential themes of ripe berries and plums, Ridge's York Creek bottling proves that full ripeness in Zin does not necessarily come with bothersome heat or jammy simplicity. It is moderately rich but never flamboyant, and, if trimmed with noticeable edge of Petite Sirah tannin, it is very much a table wine in direction and will develop nicely if set aside for a few years. -Connoisseurs' Guide

Red Wine by Cline from California. Eucalyptus mint, firm structure and exotic spice are key elements in Cline's 2006 Big Break Zinfandel. Always a robust wine, this vintage oozes with power, revealing crisp strawberries, exotic spice, as well as a toasted oak characteristic. It holds a distinct dusty berry characteristic (reminiscent of picking wild black berries in the hot summer sun), what Cline affectionately describes as their Oakley terroir. Big Break Zinfandel can be enjoyed young but it should also benefit from 5 to 7 years of cellaring. Enjoy this wine with big, spicy foods with plenty of zip, such as blackened Ahi.

Red Wine by Kenwood from Sonoma County, California. Long recognized for its superior red wines, the first Zinfandel was produced from the Jack London Vineyard in 1988. Located on Sonoma Mountain with a southeasterly exposure, the climatic conditions and long, cool growing season of this viticultural area create complexity and balance in the fruit. The influence of the vineyard's red volcanic soil and the fruity characteristics of the grapes combine to produce an excellent, very distinctive Zinfandel. Intense aroma of ripe blackberries accented by hints of vanilla & spice, followed by flavors of ripe plums and a long, elegant finish. The wild berry and spicy flavors of this rich and elegant Zinfandel are a perfect complement to tomato sauce dishes, grilled fish and steak, and rich chocolate desserts.

Red Wine by Cline from California. The Bridgehead Zinfandel is consistently the most refined and elegant of the several Zins that we produce. Our 2004 Bridgehead Zinfandel has notes of spice and black pepper combined with bright blackberry. The wine is firm and deep with notes of chocolate and toasty vanilla. Benefiting from a fine-grained structure of balanced acids and tannins, the wine will age beautifully for well over the next 5 to 7 years. Its claret-like style and intriguingly complex earthy-berry character make this one of California's most distinct and our most treasured Zinfandels.

Red Wine by Cline from California. The Live Oak Zin is known for its dimension of ripeness and individuality. A classic example of the big-boned Zinfandels for which Cline Cellars has become known, the 2004 Live Oak Zin displays notes of dark berries, raisins and licorice. The wine has a firm and balanced structure of acid and fine grained tannins. It's luscious.

Red Wine by Artezin from California. Personally selected for Artezin, this fruit comes from some of California's finest Zinfandel regions including Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley, Amador (Shenandoah Valley), and Mendocino (Ukiah Valley). Deep ruby red in color, this Zinfandel shows forward blackberry and raspberry aromas melding with black pepper, licorice and currants. Black cherry flavors follow with nutmeg, allspice, pepper, and dark chocolate undertones while the texture is rich and round with some sweet tannins giving backbone and structure. Meant for immediate enjoyment, this handcrafted 2005 Artezin is a true classic of varietal expression.

Red Wine by Kenwood from Sonoma County, California. Blend: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah The 2003 Kenwood Reserve Zinfandel is selected from individual barrel lots of their best Zinfandel appellations in Sonoma County. This wine exhibits intense aromas of ripe blackberries and dried currants with hints of licorice and cinnamon; full-bodied, rich flavors with smooth tannins and a long finish. The Reserve Zinfandel's delicious, supple flavors complement pasta, veal, lamb and steak.

Red Wine by St. Francis from Sonoma County, California. This distinctive wine, clearly in the old style, is remarkable in its intensity. The nearly pungent aromas of brambleberries, chocolate and rose petals unfold on a palate of opulently rich and seductive fruit flavors characterized by great concentration and depth, with an alcohol level not immediately evident beneath the fruit density. The distinct spice and oak notes carry into the finish, which is nearly endless.

Red Wine by Wente from Central Coast, California. This Zinfandel is from the Livermore Valley about 30 miles west of the San Francisco Bay. It has a nice berry jam flavor, smooth tannins and a lingering fruit finish. This Zinfandel was specially selected to be included into the Wente Vineyards Reserve portfolio for its color, fruit, and tannin potential. Rich, smooth, and full, this is an excellent example of Livermore Valley Zinfandel. The Smith Bench property is in the southwestern part of the Livermore Valley, where it benefi ts from warm, sunny days, and cool, foggy nights influenced by the climate of the San Francisco Bay. The rows are spaced eight feet apart, with vertical shoot positioning (VSP) to increase air flow and cause the Zinfandel to ripen perfectly. The Zinfandel vineyard was planted in 1999 with clones from the old Raboli vineyard, so it is now reaching full maturity.

Red Wine by Napa Cellars from Napa Valley, California. Napa Cellars Zinfandel is the perfect middle ground between the spicy Zinfandels of the Sierra Foothills and the fruity jammy Zinfandels of Sonoma. Both characteristics can be found in moderation with this wine. You can expect a swirl of the glass to reveal intense, sweet ripe berries, cinnamon and black pepper spice with elements of sun-baked earth. Zinfandel and BBQ are a natural fit.

Red Wine by De Loach from Russian River, California. Using estate grapes and selected fruit from growers in the Russian River Valley, the Russian River Valley series of wines represent the heart and soul of Deloach Vineyard's offerings. Consistently award wining and satisfying, the wines exhibit an elegant fruit-forward flavor profile unique to this appelation. Our Russian River Valley zinfandel is a blend of five zinfandel ranches planted between 1895 and 1934. Located within one mile of the winery, these vineyards comprise the heart of the De Loach Estate. With careful vineyard management, these head-pruned vines grow in light soils and produce intense fruit from very low yields.

Red Wine by Cline from California. The 2005 Ancient Vines Zinfandel shows wonderful dusty raspberry, blackberry, white pepper and spice, with coffee and chocolate characters. Aging in new and used wood has lent this wine a subtle vanilla quality that nicely complements the explosive fruit notes. Enjoy now or cellar for 5 to 7 years.

Red Wine by Vina Robles from Central Coast, California. Color: Deep purple, very intense Aroma: Plum and boysenberry with spice and a touch of earthiness Taste: Big, full-bodied and packed with intense, sweet, ripe fruit; this wine has wonderful flavors of dusky plums, brambles, boysenberries and raspberries; the fruit is supported by ripe but fine tannins; long pleasant finish

Red Wine by Jacuzzi from North Coast, California. Primitivo is thought to be a clone of Zinfandel. It has certain characteristics that make it unique from other clones - mainly it has small berries on a fairly large, loose cluster, is less susceptible to rot than other clones and ripens more uniformly than other Zin clones. Our Jacuzzi Primitivo is deep ruby red, has concentrated strawberry and cranberry flavors and a rich velvety mouth feel. Primitivo is grown primarily in Puglia, Italy. Our Primitivo comes from a hillside vineyard in Lake County situated in the North Coast appellation. The vineyards are found in rolling hills and the grapes are planted in well drained soil. The nurturing heat ripens this vineyard just right so that the Primitivo retains its great acidity and flavor for which this varietal is best known.

Red Wine by Fife from Russian River, California. Uplands refers to the many hillside and benchland sites around Lake Mendocino which are home to cherished small blocks of old red vines, many tended by the third generation of their original founders. Vine age and continuity of production are testament to the quality of these fortunate growing sites. To a great extent, these vines are self-limiting in yield and ripen smaller crop loads to mouth-watering intensity. It is exciting to utilize these older sites in a blend that expresses the best of Mendocino fruit. The flavors of strawberry compote come forward and define this Zin. Petite syrah and Carignane add structure and tannin along with wild berry zest and spice. With its soft entry, luscious fruit and spice flavors, and easygoing appeal, our Mendocino Zinfandel blend is a versatile companion to a wide variety of cuisines.

Red Wine by Alderbrook from Sonoma County, California. This OVOC (old vine old clone) Zinfandel is truly a representative of the Dry Creek Valley. It is sourced from 12 different growers including their own estate vineyard at the southern tip of the appellation, as well as a unique site at the opposite end of the valley, which sits at 800 feet elevation overlooking Lake Sonoma. This dark rich wine issues ripe blackberry aromas in concert with black spice notes including anise and cola. The mouth feel is soft and juicy with hints of pepper and more blackberry and plum fruit flavors. The toasty oak finish is given a touch of warmth from the 14.2% alcohol. Experience the Zin!