1999 Contra Costa County Zinfandel
100% Zinfandel, Continente Vineyard
Nineteen ninety-nine was certainly one of the finest vintages ever for Contra Costa County. Normally blazingly hot, a cool moderate summer allowed these grapes to hang into the third week of September. Picking them was an experience I hope to never re-live. Not only did the crew not show up, necessitating my friends and me to don picking knives, but we lost a bin at the end of the day as it slid off the back of a trailer, dumping all of its contents. What a day!
Tasting Note:
Very dark purple with typical aromas of earth, pepper, and plum, the wine has an intriguing note of Provencal honey on the palate. Smooth, supple, and full-bodied, we suspect this wine will be best within its first two years of release. Who knows though? We've been fooled before! (MRO - 11/17/00)