Today begins The 12 Days of Zin Part II. As with the first part a few weeks back, I'll spend 12 days covering a vast array of Zinfandels from all over California. Some will be widely available releases from producers that are household names and others will small, limited productions from boutique wineries or medium sized producers making small lots of Zinfandel. The first Zin I'm looking at is from Signorello Vineyards in Napa Valley. They are producers of premium California wines with an aim to highlight what each vineyard best expresses.
The 2006 Signorello Vineyards Zinfandel was produced from a single vineyard source. The Luvisi Vineyard is located on the Silverado Trail in Calistoga. The wine was aged in a combination of French and American oak (35% new). The suggested retail price for this wine is $38. Only 243 cases of this offering were produced.
Blueberry and cherry notes emerge in the nose along with light vanilla characteristics. The entire palate is rich and full of mouth filling fruit that hits ever taste bud with deep, dark, intense flavor underscored by light mocha notes. Chocolate covered cherry leads the way in an impressive, lengthy finish that is also filled with white pepper, nutmeg and emerging earth notes. This wine is impeccably balanced. Not a single note or characteristic is out of whack.
This wines combination of balance and intense palate makes it stand out as an impressive offering. It's drinking well now but should improve in the short term and provide pleasure for most of the next decade. A noteworthy and classic effort from Signorello Vineyards.
Up Next: The 12 Days of Zin Continues!
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