V-Twin Vineyards is Dry Creek Valley based winery that sources fruit from a
number of locations throughout California to make their wines. In addition to Wine, founders Scott Del Fava and his wife are also major motorcycle enthusiasts. Their future plans for a tasting room includes finding a location where both passions can co-exist for them and their customers. Their website is the first step in that direction with a member photo gallery. I’ll be looking at several of their releases this week, the first is a Zinfandel.
The 2005 V-Twin Vineyards Poker Run Zinfandel was produced from old vine fruit sourced in Alexander Valley. This offering is a blend of Zinfandel (75%), Petite Sirah (15%), Carignan (5%) and Syrah (5%). Oak aging was accomplished over 14 months in a combination of barrel types. 400 cases of this vintage were produced and the suggested retail price is $24.
One of the things that attracts me to Zinfandel is that it can and is made in a very wide variety of styles. As long as they’re well made I can appreciate many of those variations. Speaking of style it’s apparent from the word go that the Poker Run Zin is of the Jammy variety. A huge potpourri of big, bright berry fruit aromas fills the nose of this Zinfandel. Fresh cherries dipped in sweet chocolate are omnipresent throughout the palate of this Zin along darker fruit such as plum and blackberry, not to mention a host of spice notes. Sour cherry, earth, black pepper and hints of vanilla are all part of the remarkably smooth and lingering finish of this wine.
What I like most about this offering is that it’s a classic example of Alexander Valley Zinfandel. It reminds me in some ways of Alexander Valley Vineyards SinZin in style and level of decadence. If you like your Zins big but still balanced, Poker Run from V-Twin Vineyards might just be the wine for you.