Zinfandel of the Year
Rancho Zabaco, 2004 Toreador, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley – $50: The essence of old vine zinfandel, this stylish wine offers heady aromas of liqueur-rich raspberry and ripe red plum, oodles of brown spice and freshly cracked black peppercorn, along with a whiff of French oak. Wickedly rich and extracted on the palate with silky tannins and copious, deep flavors that replicate the nose and don’t skimp on the spice, accented by notes of dark chocolate and vanilla; super-smooth texture and a long, peppery finish. Just peeks over the top, but doesn’t go there; 15.2% alcohol. (650 cases)
Top Ten Zinfandels of the Year
Armida, 2004 Tre Torrente Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley – $34: Forward, fragrant, appealing, brambly nose of ripe black raspberry and dried lavender. Smooth and seamless with a deep core of kirsch-like black raspberry fruit accompanied by loads of peppery spice and not a hint of over-ripeness; great balance of fruit and acid with medium tannins. (299 cases)
Artezin, 2004 Mendocino (58%),
Bucklin, 2003 Old Hill Ranch, Sonoma Valley – $30: Made from 115-year-old vines in what is probably the state’s most diversely planted field-blend vineyard (predominantly zinfandel, plus grenache, alicante bouchet, petite sirah, carignane, syrah, mourv?dre and 17 other varieties), this exciting Zin exhibits heady aromas of ripe raspberry and sour cherry, toast and vanilla bean with a smoky undertone. On the palate, the wine is bursting with raspberry-blackberry-red cherry fruit and loads of freshly crushed black pepper; the texture is smooth and rich, with medium, fine-grain tannins. Classic Zin for the connoisseur, and a bargain, too. (750 cases)
Robert Biale, 2004 Monte Rosso Vineyard,
Grgich Hills, 2004 Estate Grown,
Hanna, 2002 Bismark Ranch,
Harvest Moon, 2003 Estate,
JC Cellars, 2004 Iron Hill Vineyard,
Madrona, 2003 30th Anniversary Estate Grown,
Rosenblum, 2004 Richard Sauret Vineyard, Paso Robles – $20: Forward, intense nose of plummy blackberry fruit accented by a sour cherry high note and copious black pepper spice (from the 10% petite sirah component). Easy, juicy and layered on the palate with medium tannins and generous flavors that replicate the nose, this charming Zin finishes with a note of mocha. This well-crafted, complex, fruit-driven Zin does Paso proud, and is also an exceptional bargain. (5,844 cases)
Other Outstanding Zinfandels
Armida, 2004 Flora Ranch Vineyard, Alexander Valley – $39 (197 cases)
Chiarello Family, 2003 Giana, Napa Valley – $28 (787 cases)
Dry Creek Vineyard, 2004 Heritage, Sonoma County – $15 (8,470)
Handley, 2003 Mendocino County – $20 (1,385 cases)
Harvest Moon, 2003 Russian River Valley – $20 (305 cases)
Madrona, 2002 Reserve, El Dorado – $22 (412 cases)
Rancho Zabaco, 2004 Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley – $35 (220 cases)
Rosenblum, 2004 Maggie’s Reserve, Sonoma Valley – $45 (1,150 cases)
Rosenblum, 2004 Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley – $40 (938 cases)
Rosenblum, 2004 Rockpile Road Vineyard, Rockpile – $35 (3,488 cases)
The Terraces, 2003 Napa Valley – $25 (685 cases)
Vina Robles, 2003 Westside, Paso Robles – $24 (598 cases)
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