***BOTTLING MID-OCTOBER, SHIPPING SHORTLY AFTER***
Longtime readers of this list need no reminder, but for all the new faces that have joined us over the last half year, allow us to reintroduce the world’s greatest Zinfandel region: Dry Creek Valley. Its combination of gnarled old vines, generations of winemaking legacy, and old school authenticity have been a firm cornerstone through a period of wine country history when much of the industry has chosen to invest heavily in spectacle and fanfare. Let’s just say that whenever we catch wind of an opportunity from this rustic time capsule in northern Sonoma, we don’t waste any time making our way up the road.
So, when we were tipped off about a potential gold mine in its eastern benches (some of the most prized land within the AVA) because another existing deal had fallen through, we were immediately intrigued. And what a gem it was – because the wine suddenly found itself missing a buyer, the winemakers decided to just keep it an additional half year in barrels, and that extra deep wood influence had given it a “Parker-esque” oomph to go with archetypal eastside depth and concentration. We eagerly closed a deal, and today this classic with the finest provenance is available to our readers at a song: barely $18 a bottle.
Lot 572 is a single-vineyard, estate-grown 100% Zinfandel from a historic vineyard idyllically perched on Dry Creek’s coveted eastern side. It’s a signature release of a third-generation family winery whose Zinfandels have not only a devoted local following, but a long history of awards and mid 90s scores from all the major publications and critics. Concentrated, powerful, and a perfect representation of its terroir, this beauty fetches around $50/bottle under the original label. Direct from their barrels, this scintillating Zin is available today well over 60% OFF!
Our price: $109/6-pack, $18+/bottle!
An embodiment of the best Dry Creek Valley has to offer, this wine exudes world-class terroir and Old World winemaking. The grapes hail from a vineyard in the southeastern sector of Dry Creek Valley, where gnarled head-trained vines root deep into well-draining sandy loam soils, limiting canopy growth and increasing grape concentration, further enhanced by a warm, dry 2022 growing season. Hands-off vinification was followed by aging for well over two years in oak barrels, imbuing this juice with an abundance of structure and refinement to match the fruit’s impressive natural essence.
The nose opens with deep black plum, blackberry compote, crushed gravel, and rooibos tea, layered with a dried herb bouquet, hickory, and a subtle lift of peach preserves around the rim. The entry is nicely concentrated yet finely balanced, its acidity lending precision to a core of plum reduction, blackberry preserves, and sweet tobacco. Dry, fresh tannins and a flicker of white pepper lead to a long, robust finish that reveals touches of hickory, barrel spice, dark fruit, and freshly split vanilla bean. Sumptuous.
