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Wine Details
Price:
$23.00 per bottle
Description:
Varietals Zinfandel plus a touch of Syrah. This spectacular wine comes from vines planted in 1885 - that's correct, no typo, 1885! - at Dave and Sharon Dowdy's Idle Home Ranch located in the cool Russian River Valley appellation of Sonoma County. The nose features peach, blackberry and black currant aromas with floral overtones, while in the mouth, cherry joins the same peach, blackberry and black currant flavors, supplemented by notes of vanilla custard, nutmeg and peppery spices. This smooth flavor combination is framed by nice oak and covers the tongue with breadth and persistence At Meeker we believe that this unusual combination of peach and more traditional Zinfandel flavors is attributable to this particular Zinfandel clone, enhanced by the cool growing district and a relatively cold wild yeast fermentation.
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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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Syrah:
Syrah is the eight hundred pound gorilla of Rhone grapes! In the vineyard and the winery, Syrah is typically an easy grape to work with - healthy, early ripening, resistant to mildew and rot; suitable for winemaking in a variety of styles. The wines from Syrah are tannic without being harsh. The wines will have a taste and smell of dark blue fruit like blackberries and blackcurrant, with a strong spicy side where one can find freshly ground pepper and other spices. Syrah is famous for its part in the French blends, such as Côtes du Rhone and Châteauneuf du Pape.
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