Michael Perlis and I are both big Zinfandel wine fans. Don’t get us wrong though, we love almost all varietals and our choices are completely dependent on what we are eating or the occasion. If the lesson is Rhones we’re there, Burgundy sometimes, Bordeaux varietals is pretty much a yes, and Zinfandel…well that just takes our collective breaths away. Big, bold, dusty and filled with mature dark fruit and tannins, our palates had been watering for weeks before we attended the latest Elevating Zin event produced again by Ian Blackburn for WineLA.com.
Below is the complete list of wines and wineries that were offered. The wines that were my favorites are noted in italics, my notes are in parenthesis and asterisks denote faves of the day. Look for Michael’s article on this website as well. Curious as it may appear, we don’t always love the same Zins, so it’s worth a look to read us both! Your palate may be just like one of ours. (Just want photos? Go here.)
Wine List (Most of the wineries, if not all, were delightfully represented by the winemaker and/or owner.)
Beekeeper Cellars
(These are Ian’s wines and always a favorite for me.)
Zinfandel, Secret Stones, Rockpile, Sonoma County 2016*
Zinfandel, Montecillo Vineyard, Sonoma County 2016*
Brown Estate
Zinfandel, Brown Estate, Chiles Valley, 2017*
Zinfandel Red Blend – Merlot, Zin, Petite Sirah, Napa, 2016*
Rosemary’s Block Zin – Zinfandel, Brown Estate, Chiles Valley, 2017
Chiles Valley Zinfandel – Zinfandel Brown Estate, Chiles Valley 2017*
Elyse Winery
(All wines are held 5 years.)
Zinfandel, Korte Ranch Vineyard, Saint Helena, 2013
Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, 2013*
Frank Family Vineyards
Zinfandel, Napa 2016
Kreck
(A new winery and a new favorite for me.)
Old Vine Zinfandel, Teldeschi Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, 2016*
Old Vine Zinfandel, Del Barba Vineyard, Contra Costa County, 2016*
Martinelli Winery
Zinfandel, Vellutini Ranch, Russian River Valley, 2016*
Zinfandel, Vigneto di Evo, Russian River Valley, 2016 (I missed this one.)
Zinfandel, Giuseppe & Luisa, Russian River Valley, 2016*
Mauritson Wines
(Been a fan since Michael introduced me to Clay Mauritson’s wines years ago)
Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, 2017*
Zinfandel, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard, Rockpile, 2016*
Zinfandel, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard, Rockpile 2017*
Zinfandel, Jack’s Cabin Vineyard, Rockpile, 2017*
Portalupi Winery
(The winery also makes a Barbera and Charbono that I hope to review in the near future.)
Old Vine Zinfandel, Dolinsek Ranch, Russian River Valley, 2016
Old Vine Zinfandel, Reserve, Dolinsek Ranch, Russian River Valley, 2016
Old Vine Zinfandel, Dolinsek Ranch, Russian River Valley, 2017
Old Vine Zinfandel, Reserve, Dolinsek Ranch, Russian River Valley, 2017*
Ridge Vineyards
(Loved the addition of Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet in the 2016.)
68% Zin, 18% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, Geyserville, Alexander Valley, 2017
Zinfandel, East Bench, Dry Creek Valley, 2017
88% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet, Pagani Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 2016*
Robert Biale Vineyards
(Another winery Michael turned me onto.)
Black Chicken Zinfandel, Napa Valley, 2017
Stagecoach Vineyard Zinfandel, Napa Valley, 2017*
Turley Wine Cellars
(Interesting to me that it was the two Turleys I was unfamiliar with that were my favorites – from Lodi and Amador County.)
Zinfandel, Juvenile, California, 2017
Zinfandel, Kirschenmann Vineyard, Lodi, 2017*
Zinfandel, Buck Cobb Vineyard, Amador County, 2017*
Zinfandel, Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles, 2017
William Selym
(Most of us are familiar with their Pinot Noirs, was a treat to try their Zins.)
Papera Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2017
Fanucchi – Wood Road Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2017
Zialena
Zinfandel, Estate, Alexander Valley, 2016
Zinfandel, Estate, Alexander Valley, 2015 Reserve*
Zinfandel, Estate, Alexander Valley, 2014 Reserve
Zinfandel, Estate, Alexander Valley, 2013 Reserve
(Please forgive me for missing these two wineries listed below = palate fatigue.)
Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves
Dry Creek Zinfandel, 2016
Big River Ranch Zinfandel, 2015
Barrel 32 Zinfandel, 2016
Seghesio Family Vineyards
Zinfandel, Home Ranch Vineyard, Alexander Valley, 2015
Zinfandel, Cortina, Dry Creek Valley, 2015
Zinfandel, Old Vine, Sonoma County, 2015
Zinfandel, Mariah Vineyard, Mendocino Ridge, 2017
(* faves of the day)
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
