Popped and poured. The 2006 “Pauline’s Vineyard” pours a garnet color with a near opaque core and a watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with no obvious staining and some sediment clinging to the glass. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated cherry, blackberries, fig, old leather, tobacco, damp earth, mushrooms, teriyaki, black pepper, woody notes, along with some caramelized baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium acid. The structure is very well integrated at this point. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+; rich and leathery. Drink now.
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Good dark red color and very balanced mouth feel. Plenty of raspberry fruit, with a hint of pomegranate. The finish has touches of various oak and barrel flavors, but then right at the end it takes a sharp turn to a very dirt essence. Worked very nicely with a Sunday gravy. I wish I had another bottle--this seems to be right in it's prime right now, although not the best example of CA Zinfandel due to the restraint.
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Fine example of a quality zin with ability to age; with 6 years on the vintage, fruit has softened, tannins have integrated, and oak has moved into background. If Burgundy produced Zinfandel, this would be an example. Enticing, fruity nose carries to palate with flavors of light red rasberry and pomegranite, sliight touch of oak and rich mouthfeel. Not jammy or heavy, juice is medium-bodied and elegant. Surprisingly improved over last bottle of a year or two ago. Complements, not overwhelms food pairing.
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A unique and amazingly refined zinfandel. My wife mistook it for a highly extracted pinot, and indeed it possesses the subtlety and nuance of that grape. Complex red fruit flavors swirl together with delicate spice, vanilla and toasty notes in a lingering finish.
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Amazingly elegant zin. Light footed with raspberry/cherry aromatics, plus mineral/chalky notes. Complete palate experience, front, mid and rear with baking spice and light oak on the close. Alive and fresh now, a year or two will make it even better, but overall just an incredible rendition of this varietal and worlds away from the peppery/ pruney/jammy, quasi-port experience that dry creek zin can be.
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($36) Napa-Noma, May 2008: Slightly deeper in color and richer in flavor with more fruit evident than the Elsbree, but still rather Pinot Noir like in style. Not for me.
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2/29/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. The 2006 “Pauline’s Vineyard” pours a garnet color with a near opaque core and a watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with no obvious staining and some sediment clinging to the glass. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated cherry, blackberries, fig, old leather, tobacco, damp earth, mushrooms, teriyaki, black pepper, woody notes, along with some caramelized baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium acid. The structure is very well integrated at this point. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+; rich and leathery. Drink now.
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7/1/2012 - underwds wrote: 90 Points
Good dark red color and very balanced mouth feel. Plenty of raspberry fruit, with a hint of pomegranate. The finish has touches of various oak and barrel flavors, but then right at the end it takes a sharp turn to a very dirt essence. Worked very nicely with a Sunday gravy. I wish I had another bottle--this seems to be right in it's prime right now, although not the best example of CA Zinfandel due to the restraint.
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12/4/2010 - Snoman wrote: 91 Points
Fine example of a quality zin with ability to age; with 6 years on the vintage, fruit has softened, tannins have integrated, and oak has moved into background. If Burgundy produced Zinfandel, this would be an example. Enticing, fruity nose carries to palate with flavors of light red rasberry and pomegranite, sliight touch of oak and rich mouthfeel. Not jammy or heavy, juice is medium-bodied and elegant. Surprisingly improved over last bottle of a year or two ago. Complements, not overwhelms food pairing.
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3/14/2010 - JCaress wrote: 92 Points
Excellent ruby raspberry fruit. Clean and tight, drinking well. Tannins have mellowed, may be better in a year but quite nice now.
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2/5/2010 - jroberto wrote: 91 Points
Gifted to Kevorkian
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10/13/2009 - Fishboy wrote: 84 Points
Better on day two but still too jammy and seemed more like port than a zin.
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3/29/2009 - snaff wrote: 92 Points
A unique and amazingly refined zinfandel. My wife mistook it for a highly extracted pinot, and indeed it possesses the subtlety and nuance of that grape. Complex red fruit flavors swirl together with delicate spice, vanilla and toasty notes in a lingering finish.
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3/12/2009 - swp3 wrote: 93 Points
Amazingly elegant zin. Light footed with raspberry/cherry aromatics, plus mineral/chalky notes. Complete palate experience, front, mid and rear with baking spice and light oak on the close. Alive and fresh now, a year or two will make it even better, but overall just an incredible rendition of this varietal and worlds away from the peppery/ pruney/jammy, quasi-port experience that dry creek zin can be.
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5/11/2008 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($36) Napa-Noma, May 2008: Slightly deeper in color and richer in flavor with more fruit evident than the Elsbree, but still rather Pinot Noir like in style. Not for me.
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