Wines from Contra Costa County
Showing 1 thru -9 of 119
Cline 1998 Big Break Vineyard Zinfandel (Contra Costa County)
- $28
A blast of spice, mint, bramble and pepper explodes from the glass. The wine is dense, dark, deep and mysterious; the flavors pungent, penetrating and persistent. Tannic, layered with herbs and spices, powered with big, punchy fruit. This is classic Cline.
— P.G.
(3/1/2001)
Cline 1998 Live Oak Vineyard Zinfandel (Contra Costa County)
- $28
There’s a lovely sweetness to the fruit, which tastes like ripe, just-picked blackberries. Old vines, 100+ years, deliver sweet, supple, sexy fruit. The wine has very dry tannins, and it might profit from some blending, but with a vineyard this special you have to admire the single-vineyard approach.
— P.G.
(3/1/2001)
Cline 1997 Live Oak Vineyard Zinfandel (Contra Costa County)
- $28
From the Zinmaster Cline brothers comes a ripe, elegant beauty. Packed with raspberry, dark chocolate, tobacco, nutmeg, clove, and a kiss of vanilla-scented oak, it’s complex and lush. Very dry, very strong and very interesting.
— S.H.
(5/1/2000)
Cana 2003 J. Jaden Dessert Wine Syrah (Contra Costa County)
- Editors' Choice
- Online Exclusive
- $40
Doesn’t say so on the front label, but the fine print indicates the grape variety is Syrah, although you couldn’t guess that from the flavors. What it does taste like is lush, easy-drinking Port. Sweet and smooth, it has vast flavors of blackberry jam, cassis, cherries, raspberry pie, oranges, chocolate truffle, cloves and vanilla. So delicious, it makes you want…
— W.E.
(11/8/2008)
Rosenblum 1996 Continente Vineyard Old Old Vi Zinfandel (Contra Costa County)
- $20
Rich and deep, with layers of fruit and spice complexity. Finishes long, unfolding all the while. There are some dusty tannins, but they’re fine-grained and easy to warm up to. From vines planted in 1878.
— J.C.
(9/1/1999)
Cline 1997 Small Berry Mourvèdre (Contra Costa County)
- $24
Very rich chocolate, plum and allspice aromas, like a pudding. Classy. From low-yielding old vines, and it shows in the intensity and density. Deft winemaking keeps it from being ponderous. Really alive and fresh; try with braised lamb shank and wild mushrooms.
— S.H.
(10/1/1999)
Cline 1997 Big Break Zinfandel (Contra Costa County)
- $25
More open and accessible than the Ancient Vines, and showing the importance of terroir. Ripe, briary and peppery, it captures Zin’s character in an earthy, likeable way.
— S.H.
(9/1/1999)
Rosenblum 1997 Continente Vineyard Zinfandel (Contra Costa County)
- $19
Quite high-toned raspberry fruit, with enough volatile acidity to give the nose a lift without being considered a flaw. Explosive fruit, with spice shadings. The finish could be longer, but we’re quibbling here. A good value, too.
— J.C.
(9/1/1999)
Showing 1 thru -9 of 119
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