QRW | Summer 2008 | Best of The Best: California Zinfandels

Best of The Best:
California Zinfandels

These are some of the finest Zins we’ve ever tasted.

QRW Tasting Team

Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards has long understood that Zinfandel can be great when it’s fleshed out with something like Petite Sirah or Carignane. Other California winemakers are beginning finally to follow his lead, and Zinfandel, as a result, has never been better. Which is not to say that 100% Zinfandel wines are bad. Au contraire. When produced by talented winemakers using low-yield old-vine fruit, these too can achieve greatness. Indeed, in our recent assay of current California Zinfandel, we found many unblended Zins to our liking. Now we know there are doubters out there who can’t accept Zinfandel — blended or otherwise — as serious wine. We’re convinced, however, that were they to hunker down with the Zins listed below, they would rapidly banish all doubt.

5-Star California Zinfandels

Wines of extraordinary character and quality — in a class by themselves

BEST OF SHOW

2005 Ridge “Lytton Springs” (California), $32

2005 Consilience “Rhodes Vineyards”

2005 Dashe “Louvau Vineyards Old Vines”

2005 Dry Creek “Beeson Ranch”

2005 Dry Creek Old Vine

2005 Ferrari-Carano Reserve

2005 Grgich Hills Estate

2005 Kuleto Estate

2005 Mazzocco “Maple”

2005 Michael-David Earthquake

2004 Rancho Zabaco “Stefani Vineyards”

2005 Rubicon Estate Edizione Pennino

2004 St. Francis “Pagani Vineyard Reserve”

Owner Tom Daughters and Owner/Winemaker Brett Escalera, Consilience

2005 Consilience Zinfandel “Rhodes Vineyards” (Redwood Valley/Mendocino), $34. Rich, ripe, toasty, highly seductive, red berry and vanillin flavors.

Winemaker Bill Knuttel, Dry Creek Vineyards

2005 Dry Creek Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley), $28. 90% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah. Plush, texturous, elegant, complete, wild blackberry, French roast and nutty oak flavors.
BEST VALUE

Winemaker Mike Grgich, Grgich Hills

2005 Grgich Hills Estate Zinfandel (Napa Valley), $33. 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah. Big, rich, firm, muscular, black fruit, briar and French roast flavors.

Winemaker/General Manager Antoine Favero, Mazzocco

2005 Mazzocco Zinfandel “Maple” (Dry Creek Valley), $36. 95% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah. Big, rich, ripe, plush (indeed, downright sexy), red currant and cocoa flavors.

Edizione Winemaker Scott McLeod

2005 Rubicon Estate Edizione Pennino Zinfandel (Rutherford/Napa Valley), $42. Estate-grown on organically certified vineyards. Soft, plump, succulent, wild berry and nutty oak flavors.

Winemaker Tom Mackey, St. Francis Winery

2004 St. Francis Zinfandel “Pagani Vineyard Reserve” (Sonoma Valley), $38. Big, deep, rich, long, black plum, French roast and nutty oak flavors.

2005 Ridge “Lytton Springs” (California), $32. 77% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah. Big, rich, ripe, well-structured, elegantly balanced, black fruit, French roast and nutty oak flavors.
BEST OF SHOW

2005 Dashe Zinfandel “Louvau Vineyards Old Vines” (Dry Creek Valley), $32. 99% Zinfandel, 1% Petite Sirah. Big, rich, chewy, bramble, French roast and earth flavors.

2005 Dry Creek Vineyards Zinfandel “Beeson Ranch” (Dry Creek Valley), $34. 93% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah. Lush, velvety, elegant, bramble, blackberry, coffee and toasty oak flavors.

2005 Ferrari-Carano Zinfandel Reserve (Dry Creek Valley), $36. 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah. Big, rich, ripe, well-concentrated, black plum, spice and nutty oak flavors.

2005 Kuleto Estate Zinfandel (Napa Valley), $38. Deep, rich, velvety, black fruit, spice, and mint chocolate flavors.

2005 Michael-David Earthquake Zin (Lodi), $28. Big, rich, ripe, mouthcoating, black fruit, cocoa and spice flavors.

2004 Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel “Stefani Vineyards” (Dry Creek Valley), $28. Rich, ripe, plump, juicy, elegant, black fruit and French roast flavors.

4-Star California Zinfandels

Wines of outstanding character and quality — benchmarks of their type

2005 Dashe Zinfandel “Florence Vineyard” (Dry Creek Valley), $32. Soft, lush, elegant, black fruit and toasty oak flavors.

2005 Dashe Zinfandel “Todd Brothers Ranch Old Vines” (Alexander Valley), $32. 99% Zinfandel, 1% Petite Sirah. Deep, rich, lush, well-concentrated black fruit, coffee and nutty oak flavors.

2005 Ferrari-Carano Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley), $26. 85% Zinfandel, 11% Carignane, 4% Petite Sirah. Big, rich, earthy, black fruit, French roast and nutty oak flavors.

2005 Kenwood Jack London Zinfandel (Sonoma Valley), $25. Soft, round, well-knit, black fruit, spice and cocoa flavors.

2005 Orchid Hill Zinfandel “Primi” (Paso Robles), $28. Big, rich, ripe, succulent, black fruit, French roast and toasty oak flavors.

2005 Peju Province Estate Zinfandel (Napa Valley), $28. Big, ripe, plump, zesty, black plum and mocha flavors.

2005 Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel “Monte Rosso Vineyards” (Sonoma Valley), $45. Rich, ripe, round, elegant, red berry and nutty oak flavors.

2004 Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel (Russian River Valley), $28. Big, rich, ripe, succulent, black plum, cocoa and nutty oak flavors.

2005 Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel “Toreador/Monte Rosso Vineyards” (Sonoma Valley), $60. Deliciously ripe, round, zesty, wild berry, vanilla and roasted nut flavors.

2005 Ridge Geyserville “40th Vintage” (California), $35. 77% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah. Soft, plump, juicy, utterly fetching, black fruit, French roast and nutty oak flavors.

2005 Wilson Winery Reserve Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley), $40. Big, rich, ripe, plump, elegant, black fruit, spice and nutty oak flavors.