PnP. My last one and the 3rd in 4 months, luckily it was also my best bottle. The fruit was up to the considerable task of matching the strength of the lovely French oak component - both came off beautifully, further inspiring this full-bodied beauty. A powerhouse of a wine but it manages itself in a composed, elegant manner. Layers of red and black berries that melt in a liqueur-like style are washed away by a thick core of acids. Wonderful purity of fruit. Tannins are grippy, but nearly resolved. A terrific effort and one of the few Zins in this AVA I truly believe are worth upwards of $27. Drink thru 2014, 15,2% abv, recommended, score: A-
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PnP. This is ready to drink, and is not likely to get better. There is a sensible richness about it that makes it welcome at the dinner table. Notwithstanding its 15,5% abv, this full-bodied, but not overly ripe wine has plenty of spice and depth of fruit to keep it interesting. A great mid-week bottilng that went really well with the homemade pizzas with fennel and sausage. Drink thru 2013.
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PnP. Absolutely nothing earthy about it, and it's missing some complexity. But, it makes up for it in terms of purity of fruit and balance. These aren't the oldest vines out there, so I'm rating it based on what the vines are capable of, and a 90 isn't all that shabby. Blackberry puree, raspberry compote, lively, juicy acidity and medium, fine-grained tannins round out this easy drinker that packs a bit of a silent punch. Perfect with homemade pasta and homemade sausage ragu. Drink thru 2014, 15,2% abv, approx $26.
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A lot going on in the glass, really opens up after and hour of decant. Well integrated nose of pine, blueberry, spice and forest floor. Great balance, no hint of alcohol. This wine really stands out.
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Decanted 90 minutes. Dark ruby in the glass. Terrific, complex nose of spice box, crumb cake, blueberry compote, dusty earth and vanilla; but this is still a bit backward at the moment. Give this another year in the bottle and it will be worth the wait. I'll review another one in a year and won't be surprised if it gets another point or 2, easy. I love to watch this shift in the glass every 10 minutes or so. The purity is obvious, and thoroughly enjoyable. Drink thru 2016, approx $34
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11/16/2011 - Tim Heaton wrote:
PnP. My last one and the 3rd in 4 months, luckily it was also my best bottle. The fruit was up to the considerable task of matching the strength of the lovely French oak component - both came off beautifully, further inspiring this full-bodied beauty. A powerhouse of a wine but it manages itself in a composed, elegant manner. Layers of red and black berries that melt in a liqueur-like style are washed away by a thick core of acids. Wonderful purity of fruit. Tannins are grippy, but nearly resolved. A terrific effort and one of the few Zins in this AVA I truly believe are worth upwards of $27. Drink thru 2014, 15,2% abv, recommended, score: A-
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9/11/2011 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
PnP. This is ready to drink, and is not likely to get better. There is a sensible richness about it that makes it welcome at the dinner table. Notwithstanding its 15,5% abv, this full-bodied, but not overly ripe wine has plenty of spice and depth of fruit to keep it interesting. A great mid-week bottilng that went really well with the homemade pizzas with fennel and sausage. Drink thru 2013.
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8/21/2011 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
PnP. Absolutely nothing earthy about it, and it's missing some complexity. But, it makes up for it in terms of purity of fruit and balance. These aren't the oldest vines out there, so I'm rating it based on what the vines are capable of, and a 90 isn't all that shabby. Blackberry puree, raspberry compote, lively, juicy acidity and medium, fine-grained tannins round out this easy drinker that packs a bit of a silent punch. Perfect with homemade pasta and homemade sausage ragu. Drink thru 2014, 15,2% abv, approx $26.
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10/28/2010 - pilot360 wrote:
A lot going on in the glass, really opens up after and hour of decant. Well integrated nose of pine, blueberry, spice and forest floor. Great balance, no hint of alcohol. This wine really stands out.
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4/24/2009 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Decanted 90 minutes. Dark ruby in the glass. Terrific, complex nose of spice box, crumb cake, blueberry compote, dusty earth and vanilla; but this is still a bit backward at the moment. Give this another year in the bottle and it will be worth the wait. I'll review another one in a year and won't be surprised if it gets another point or 2, easy. I love to watch this shift in the glass every 10 minutes or so. The purity is obvious, and thoroughly enjoyable. Drink thru 2016, approx $34
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