Showing items 1 through 10
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- 96
- $55
Hartford 2007 Highwire Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley)
The vineyard is in Fulton, a cool part of the southeastern valley heavily influenced by fog, and the vines are about 100 years old. This is great, classic Zinfandel. It should be in a museum. Despite high alcohol, it has a silky, Pinot-esque suppleness, balanced with crisp acids, and is profoundly rich in Zinny flavor. Currants, mushu plum sauce, anise, crushed black pepper, dark chocolate and rich Asian spices last forever on the finish. — S.H. (8/1/2009) — 96 -
- 96
- $38
Seven Lions Winery 2000 Three Amigos Vineyards Zinfandel (Sonoma County)
A complex, amazing wine that is one of the best Zins of the vintage. The perfume is extraordinarily detailed, suggesting black raspberry preserves, white chocolate, black pepper, tobacco, vanilla and smoke. All these flavors commingle in the mouth. Drinks dry, with dusty tannins. This is a brilliant wine, with a sensationally rich, vital finish. —S.H. — S.H. (9/1/2002) — 96 -
- 95
- $60
Deerfield 2006 Buchignani-Garcia Vineyard Old Vine Reserve Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley)
If you had to choose one Zinfandel to showcase Dry Creek Valley, it’s this one. The vines are said to be over 100 years of age. Just superb. Has the balance and depth of a fine Cabernet Sauvignon, but with Zin’s spicy, briary, brambly personality. Erupts in wild berry, currant, cola, leather, mocha and peppery spice flavors that are so rich and deep and long-lasting. Pricey, but sets a benchmark for Zinfandel. Only 550 cases were produced. — S.H. (7/1/2010) — 95 -
- 95
- $30
De Loach 2007 O.F.S. Zinfandel (Russian River Valley)
This is De Loach’s finest Zinfandel of their five new releases. In fact, it’s their best Zinfandel ever, and one that defines Sonoma County cool-climate Zinfandel. It’s brilliant in balance and structure, with beautifully sculpted tannins and fine acidity, and just the right touch of oak. Within that package are savory flavors of wild blackberries, picked at their peak under the summer sun. So easy to drink, yet so complex. — S.H. (7/1/2010) — 95 -
- 95
- $36
Zichichi Family Vineyard 2007 Old Vine Estate Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley)
An impressive Zinfandel, notable for its complexity and charm. Exudes quintessential Zin character, with a mouthburst of red currants, black raspberry pie filling, wild cherries, sweet charred oak and masses of freshly crushed black pepper. There’s even a chocolaty richness in the finish. Production of 921 cases is decent in the old-vine Zin category. — S.H. (5/1/2010) — 95 -
- 95
- $60
Ravenswood 2007 Old Hill Single Vineyard Zinfandel (Sonoma Valley)
You can quibble with the price, but there’s no doubt about the quality of this Zin. It’s extraordinarily deeply flavored, offering waves of wild cherries, cola, anise, molé sauce, pepper spice and sandalwood, wrapped into profoundly fine tannins, and with a long, dry finish. Drink this near-perfect Zinfandel over the next six years. — S.H. (3/1/2010) — 95 -
- 95
- $34
Dry Creek Vineyard 2007 Beeson Ranch Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley)
The vineyard is on winding, picturesque West Dry Creek Road, and is comprised of very old vines. In the wrong hands these low-yielding grapes might have been mishandled, but Dry Creek Vineyard knows Zinfandel. The result is superb, spectacular, the essence of old vine Sonoma. Rich, dry and pure, it’s enormously complex in briary, peppery wild berries, with a delicious edge of sweet raisins. Drink now for sheer deliciousness. — S.H. (2/1/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $33
V. Sattui 2007 Crow Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley)
This is great Zinfandel. The vineyard was planted in 1915 and probably contains other varieties than Zinfandel. Yields are extraordinarily low, as they are in these coastal ancient vineyards. The wine’s concentration is impressive, spanning ripe, crushed raspberries through cherry pie filling to black currants, with all sorts of earthy, minerally, balsam and cedar complexities, not to mention the masses of spice. Has the balance of a fine Cabernet Sauvignon, with smooth tannins and fine acidity. Zinfandel hardly gets any better than this. — S.H. (5/1/2010) — 95 -
- 95
- $40
Gary Farrell 2006 Bradford Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley)
Shows a dramatic interpretation of Dry Creek terroir, with intense wild berry, mocha and spice flavors that are so ripe, they veer into currants and grilled blackberries. Entirely dry, the wine is marked by rich, complex tannins. Superb, a great wine, as good as Zinfandel gets. Drink now through 2012. — S.H. (4/1/2009) — 95 -
- 95
- $42
Stuart Cellars 1998 Vintage Zinfandel (Temecula)
Black as ink, with glints of royal purple and gold, it opens with intense, penetrating aromas of dark chocolate, blackberry preserves and cassis, caramel, and a smoky, peppery note. Decadently rich, with 10% residual sugar, and heady, with 19% alcohol, but so delicious. The silky, velvety texture is pure seduction. This has got to be one of the best California Ports on the market. —S.H. — S.H. (4/1/2002) — 95
Showing items 1 through 10
of 3,823
Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Los Vascos
Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley
Solid and sturdy up front, with earthy berry and cassis aromas. Feels…Read More