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Wine Details
Price:
$22.00 per bottle
Description:
Although all of our zinfandel vineyards produce different expressions of the varietal, the Stellwagen, coming as it does from the slightly warmer Sonoma Valley, is the most unusual. Over the years we have developed quite a following for this vineyard that produces the “pinot noir” of zinfandels. Usual descriptors run to deep red fruit and white pepper in contrast to the Russian River Valley’s more black berry/black pepper. The 1998 while having the Stellwagen “signature”, shows more dark character and structure than usual. A recent review by Robert Parker referred to, among other things, “kinky, leather notes”! I have never smelled kinky leather, but to be fair he reviewed the wines after only about 3 weeks in bottle. Dan Berger in his Vintage Wine Experience said, “Exceptional. Fairly concentrated aroma of blackberry and spices like basil and thyme, with hints of black pepper and raspberry in the aftertaste. A weighty wine with more than 14% alcohol, but perfectly structured”. It sounds like one heck of a wine—and it is! 356 cases bottled.
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Varietal Definition
Zinfandel:
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California wine vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the 'heel' of Italy. It is typically made into a robust red wine. Its taste depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruits like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler areas such as the Napa Valley, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are more common in wines made in warmer areas such as Sonoma County. Many Zinfandels come from head pruned ‘Old Vines’. ‘Old Vine’ is generally understood to mean a vine that is more than 50 years old and that produces less than three tons per acre. ‘Head Pruning’ is an old European style of pruning that trains the vine into the shape of a goblet. It requires no wires or other complex trellis systems. Head pruning spreads the fruit uniformly along the vine and allows light penetration.In the USA a semi-sweet Rosé (blush-style) wine called ‘White Zinfandel’ has achieved widespread popularity. In fact, this popularity has so outstripped all other forms that many fans think there is actually a grape called “White Zinfandel” (there isn’t)!
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Pinot Noir:
The name is derived from the French words for ‘pine’ and ‘black’ alluding to the varietals' tightly clustered dark purple pine cone shaped bunches of fruit. Pinot Noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine. By volume most Pinot Noir in America is grown in California with Oregon coming in second. Other regions are Washington State and New York.During 2004 and the beginning of 2005, Pinot Noir became considerably more popular amongst consumers in the United States, possibly because of the movie Sideways. Being lighter in style, it has benefited from a trend toward more restrained, less alcoholic wines. It is the delicate, subtle, complex and elegant nature of this wine that encourages growers and winemakers to cultivate this difficult grape. Robert Parker has described Pinot Noir: "When it's great, Pinot Noir produces the most complex, hedonistic, and remarkably thrilling red wine in the world."
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