2001 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
82% Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Teldeschi Ranch
12% Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah, Unti Vineyard
6% Dry Creek Valley Carignane, Imgalle Ranch
This year's Dry Creek Zin sports a new twist. Carignane! With Ray Teldeschi's hundred year-old Petite Sirah vines gone, we turned to Joe Imgalle's 80 year-old Carignane vineyard on Dutcher Creek Road for blending material. Although we were very pleased with the results, in the end, we felt our Dry Creek Zin just wouldn't be the same without the Petite component. So, although it hurt (hurt a lot, in fact), we sacrificed a couple of barrels of our "killer Pet" for this wine. The final blend was bottled unfiltered after 16 months barrel aging.
Tasting Note:
Medium dark to dark ruby. Classic Dry Creek nose of dusty red earth, zinberry and white pepper. Brooding, even sulking, yet one can sense there's a tiger lurking in the glass. Full bodied (15.5% alcohol) with a creamy entry. But like our '99 Dry Creek Zin, its structure and tannins on the finish dictate additional bottling aging. Drink from 2005 to 2010. Who says Zinfandel can't age??!!? (MRO - 9/7/03)