Zin hardly gets better than this dark, deeply flavored wine. The aroma suggests grilled meat, leather, blackberry pie, espresso, cinnamon and vanilla. Drinks full bodied and tannic, but very dry, combining power and authority with finesse. This wine is beautiful now, and should hold and improve for years.
— S.H.
(11/1/2005)
Here’s a big, thick, full-bodied and extracted wine that captures the essence of Dry Creek Valley Zin. Its marked by extremely briary, brambly flavors of wild blue and black berries and cola. Then the spices kick in, starting with black pepper, ranging through cinnamon and star anise, and then finishing with black pepper. Totally, completely bone dry and quite…
— S.H.
(5/1/2010)
With a little Syrah and Mour-vèdre, this young, dark purple wine is tight, tannic and acidic. It desperately needs time. Even as little as six months should soften it, and tease out the sweet cherry and spice flavors. Finishes with fabulous complexity.
— S.H.
(11/1/2005)
Unti specializes in Rhône-style wines from their Dry Creek vineyard. The reds are pretty good, and so is this rosé, made from Grenache and Mourvedre. It’s completely dry, and despite a delicate mouthfeel, delivers plenty of berry, cherry and spice flavor. For such a light-bodied wine, it has surprising complexity.
— S.H.
(7/1/2007)
Unti has succeeded in overcoming Sangiovese’s tendency to dull herbaceousness in favor of a cherried, blackberry richness. Tannins and acids, however, are hefty, suggesting rich cheeses, olive oil, and fatty meats. Drink now through 2011.
— S.H.
(11/1/2005)
This Sangiovese, Barbera and Dolcetto blend is a fantastic value in a Chianti-style red. It’s bone dry, tart in acids and dusty, with polished flavors of cherries, backed up by puckery plum-skin tannins. This elegant wine shows real sophistication.
— S.H.
(11/1/2005)
Hits the palate with the force of a sledgehammer: Very tannic and dry, but with enough blackberry flavor to (mostly) balance things out. West Coast Editor Steve Heimoff was a huge proponent of this wine, calling it likely to age gracefully for a decade, while Tasting Director Joe Czerwinski was less enthusiastic, finding the tannins hard.
— W.E.
(9/1/2005)
From a warmer part of Dry Creek Valley, Rhône specialist Unti has crafted a pale, but rich, blush wine with such an inviting aroma of raspberry sorbet and vanilla, you can’t wait to dive in. It doesn’t disappoint, being delicately silky and drily delicious. Try with grilled sausage and raw veggies with a spicy hummus dip.
— S.H.
(8/1/2005)