Peterson explains how extraordinary this vineyard is:
West Vineyard, planted in 1902, is a dry-farmed, headtrained Zinfandel vineyard located on a hillside in the southeast corner of Dry Creek Valley. A traditional field-blend vineyard; a small portion is planted with 3% other red grapes (Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Mourvedre, Carignane an some others I’m not really sure about), as well as 0.5% white grapes (Semillon, Palomino and Chasselas). All the vines are harvested at the same time and all the varieties are cofermented, which produces a smoother, fuller wine than separate fermentations and subsequent blending can give you. This is the kind of wine that really got me hooked on Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels. A traditional, old-vine field-blend wine with classic “raspberry jam” that differentiates the best Dry Creek Valley Zins from all others. Big, but balanced. Fruity, yet elegant. This is a wine that will go with almost any food, but you can also just pull the cork on a bottle and drink it with friends while playing cards or watching a good movie
As for the wine, he says:
A concentrated, intense dark berry and plum essence fills the nose and beckons the first sip, which hooks you. From that first sip, it’s apparent the wine is perfectly balanced and offers depth of flavors, thanks to the old-vine field-blend grapes. Rich black raspberry, dark plum and bright cherry are laced with just the right amount of black pepper spice and acidity. Savor a kiss of oak along with traces of mocha and dark chocolate. The wine’s structure plays a notable role, yet does it so seamlessly that you may not notice it. As the flavors linger, you start to long for the next sip. A great wine to enjoy solo, it also pairs perfectly with ricotta eggplant roll-ups, or a juicy steak with a creamy peppercorn sauce and a side of French fries.
Peterson picks this a bit later than the vineyards owner, so it’s a bigger (16.2%), richer and maybe more “old school” Zinfandel. More “tradizionale.”
Their version sells for $50…and it’s worth it. Peterson’s, at $30, is practically a gift.
