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:
The intensity and depth on the nose and mouth showcase the character and age of these old Zinfandel vines. Deep aromas of spicy red and black berries layer with hints of fine herbs and fresh toffee. The smooth entry flows into a bright mid-palate of ripe blackberry, Santa Rosa plum, Bing cherry and just a kiss of rhubarb pie. Caramel, spices and a hint of floral weave through the buoyant fruit flavors that expand and linger long. Integrated oak and lively acidity provide the perfect structure to support this delicious example of what old vines can deliver.
Peterson picks this a bit later than the vineyards owner, so it’s a bigger (16.1%, vs 14.5% for the vineyard’s owner), richer and maybe more “old school” Zinfandel. More “tradizionale.” But every bit as special and exciting.
Their version sells for $50…and it’s worth it. Indeed, it’s often cited as one of California’s greatest relative red wine values at that price. Peterson’s version of the vineyard, at less than $30, is almost charity.
Here are the two reviews from Peterson’s customers:
My favorite wine of all time! "Owl Wine" is juicy and full bodied and absolutely delicious. Careful, I may buy it all up!
Hey Mary I may want buy it all up too so let's split it. It is my favorite Peterson Zin. Your description is spot on and it is consistent over the years. Cheers.
It also won a Double Gold Medal and 96-point score in the 2016 vintage – which as you probably know was wonderful, but not quite at the level of this 2018.
