Adventures in Wine > Zinfandel

Zinfandel

Planted mostly in California, red Zinfandel remains one of the world’s most distinctive grape varieties with its heady, spicy, raisiny fruit studded with loganberries and plums. These days, though Zinfandel is also venturing beyond its natural habitat and can be found in Australia and even Chile.

Dillian Wines

Winery: Dillian
Region: California
Sub-region: Amador Country

Barbera
Petite Sirah
Primitivo
Sauvignon Blanc
Zinfandel ‘Tre Fratelli’

Dillian is a small family winery specializing in Zinfandel, Barbera and Primitivo. Tom Dillian has been growing high-quality grapes in Amador County since 1972 on land the Dillian family has owned since 1917. Successful home winemaking led to Dillian Wines opening its doors in 2003.

Categories: Barbera, Petit Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel

Gamba

Winery: Gamba
Region: California
Sub-region: Sonoma County

Zinfandel Russian River Valley
Zinfandel Old Vine Moratto Vineyard
Zinfandel Old Vine Estate Vineyard

Gamba Vineyards and Winery is a small, family owned vineyard and winery business in Sonoma County, California. The over century old 27.5 acre Gamba Estate Vineyard parcel rests on th Eastern edge of the beautiful Russian River Valley Appellation, on gently rolling benchland above the valley floor. Planted to Zinfandel in 1900, the Gamba Estate Vineyard consists primarily of Old Vine Zinfandel, as well as small separate blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon. On average the yield is small, in part due to nature, but also by design-approximately one half ton, and occasionally up to one ton per acre is harvested, depending on the vigor of vineyard block and severity of pruning.

SOCAL ONLY

Categories: Zinfandel

Il Gioiello Winery

Winery: Il Gioiello, Morse Estate & Parallax
Region: California
Sub-region: Sierra Foothills

Il Gioiello Barbera
Il Gioiello Zinfandel ‘Block 1’

Morse Estate ‘Ensemble’
Morse Estate Mourvedre

Parallax Barbera
Parallax Viognier

With the primary objective of producing top quality wines at an affordable price, Robert Morse purchased the estate property in 1999. With 20 of its 80 acres under vine, the winery produces about 4500 cases annually with most wines under 500 cases. Grapes are handpicked and triple-sorted. The Il Gioiello label is for Italian varietals, the Morse Estate label for French varietals and the Parallax label focuses on wines of exceptional value.

Categories: Barbera, Mourvedre, Viognier, Zinfandel

Jeff Runquist Wines

Winery: Jeff Runquist Wines
Region: California

1448
Barbera R
Cabernet Sauvignon R
Carignane R
Grenache R
Petite Sirah R
Petit Verdot R
Syrah R
Tannat R
Zinfandel Z

Jeff travels throughout California to find just the right grapes for his vineyard designated wines. The winery produces 14 different limited production red varietals. Runquist produces balanced wines that can be enjoyed in their youth, but will also age and become more complex with time. His wines share a theme of fresh fruit reflective of the varietal flavors inherent in the grape.

Categories: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah-Shiraz, Zinfandel

Rubus

Winery: Rubus
Region: California
Sub-region: Napa Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Zinfandel

Our supplier regarding the 2007 Rubus Cabernet Sauvignon:

“Since August 2009, I had been hearing from my long time friend Eddie about some fantastic lots of 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon becoming available on the bulk market. Napa Valley vintners and growers are finding themselves in a very odd predicament: they’ve produced their best wines since 1997, possibly the best in 30 years, but thanks to the recession there’s no market for $80.00 – $175.00 per bottle Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, when I was in Napa two weeks ago, over 100+ wineries were for sale, and 10-20 wineries have been forced into bankruptcy recently. It’s an opportune time to find great wine at reasonable prices.

We begin the tasting with about 4-5 reds: Alexander Valley Cabernets and red blends from the Northern Coast. The wines are good. Next, Eddie brings out a lot from 2007 Stag’s Leap AVA that is finished and bottled but has no home. The wine is fantastic; the quality equivalent to anything from Outpost, Paradigm, or Silver Oak. I inquire as to what’s available, and Eddie informs me that yesterday’s group bought 50% of the lot and the rest is almost entirely pre-sold. I remind him of our long time friendship and agree to pay on short terms – we get 2,000 cases. Given the price and quality, I know that this is a “one off”, and I know I will never be able to replicate this deal. In a good economy, this wine would have sold for just under $200.00 per bottle, but given today’s new economy, it sells for $24.00 per bottle.

Try Napa’s best from a 10-out-of-10 vintage (2007) for a fraction of its original price. I only wish I could have purchased more – I was almost late for the party.”

Categories: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel

Vino Noceto

Winery: Vino Noceto
Region: California
Sub-region: Amador County

Frivolo
Pinot Grigio
Sangiovese
Zinfandel

NV Tutti i Giorni ‘Nutz’!

Situated in the heart of California’s Shenandoah Valley in historic Amador County, Vino Noceto was founded in 1987 by Suzy and Jim Gullett. It is a family-run vineyard and wine business pioneering the renaissance of the noble Tuscan varietal Sangiovese. Vino Noceto is a Sangiovese specialist currently producing over 9000 cases annually of Sangiovese from Estate fruit and nearby small vineyards. The 25 acre estate vineyard consists of twenty-four acres of Sangiovese and one acre of Syrah.

Categories: Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Zinfandel

Wine Guerrilla

Winery: Wine Guerrilla
Region: California
Sub-region: Sonoma

Rebel Cru
Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley
Zinfandel Goat Trek Vineyard
Zinfandel Two Vineyards
Zinfandel Sonoma County
Zinfandel Forchini Vineyards OV
Zinfandel Adel’s Vineyard
Zinfandel Clopton Vineyard
Zinfandel Coffaro Block 1
Zinfandel Harris-Kratka Vineyard
Zinfandel Forchini Vineyards OV
Zinfandel Conte Vineyard

Wine Guerrilla seeks to provide wines of exceptional uniqueness and character. According to the website: “Wherever proud zinfandel grapes are oppressed and the taste buds of consumers are in peril, Wine Guerrilla is there.” The name “Wine Guerrilla” reflects a unique approach to winemaking and marketing. Having begun as a broker of small-production artisinal wines, Wine Guerrilla brings together a vision of a reasonably priced premium wine with a passion for California’s native grape, zinfandel, knowledge of the Sonoma region and existing relationships with many of the county’s best-known growers. The result is something special. Wine Guerrilla operates on a singular mission: Finding the very best zinfandel grapes, crafting wines worthy of the grape’s unique characteristics, and introducing those wines to the public.