The second stop today takes the 12 Days of Zin back to Dry Creek Valley. A tremendous number of well made Zinfandels emerge from this region each year and they have been for a long time. The selection I'm looking at now is from Collier Falls Vineyards. They're a family owned winery on 100 acres in the extreme northwest of Dry Creek Valley. In addition to Zinfandel which is one of their signature wines, they also produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Primitivo and Petite Sirah.
The 2004 Collier Falls Vineyards Zinfandel is 100% varietal. The wine was aged for 15 months in French and American oak with 37% of it being new. 1,100 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $30.
Strawberries, plum and cherry notes emerge in the nose along with light but present vanilla. The palate features lots of exuberant but balanced jam berry fruit accompanied by blueberry pie crust notes. This Zin is persistently fruity, full, lush and rich throughout. The finish has dust, earth dried fruit notes and bramble along with some mineral that linger. This wine has good acidity and is nicely balanced. It's built for food and will complement a variety of foods well. A burger or steak fajitas are just a couple of the options that come to mind.
What I like best about this Zinfandel is that it's full of concentrated, intense and persistent fruit notes that impress with both their power and their restraint. The four years of age this Zin has on it now has certainly helped make this a wine that is ready to go. Enjoy it now and for the next 5 years or so. A classic example of Dry Creek Zinfandel.
Up Next: The 12 Days of Zin Continues!
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