Category: biodynamic®, red wine

Tags: California, Napa Valley, zinfandel

Grgich Hills Napa Valley Zinfandel 2007 is made from estate grown biodynamic-certified zinfandel grapes in the heart of Napa Valley, California. Zinfandel from Napa Valley is rarer today than it has been historically, which is a shame based on this wine. This zinfandel is complex on the nose, plenty of dark berries akin to a berry compote. There is a dusty aspect, an iron element and spiciness with pepper. In contrast to many zinfandels that are straightforward and highly quaffable, this zinfandel makes Winston Jones “think before he drinks”. Part of the pleasure of a good wine is the expectation it sets on the nose, making the experience in the mouth all the more pleasurable and interesting. This wine delivers a purity of fruit: blackberry, raspberry. It is spicy but not overdone. And, perhaps most surprisingly, it has tannic structure which is rarely expected in many California zinfandels. As such this wine could age even another 2 years and you could expect some softening and additional richness added to it’s profile. Winston pleads with Dry Creek fans to come back to Napa and try something different with this wine. “One damn good wine.” 90 points.