Manzanita Creek Rocky Ridge Vineyard 2016

 

This wine was shared with me by my sister and brother in law during dinner.  It was so impressive I had to put it up just in case you might be able to get your hands on a bottle.  Let it be said here that I am a huge fan of Great Zinfandels with a little age on them.  I know most zins are drunk right away.  But I have found that if laid down a bit they really start to express themselves like other great varietals.  This wine is one of those.

I searched this wine and found the winery website.  Here is what they say about their winemaking philosophy.

Ourphilosophy  is simple, start out with the best grapes we can find.

The majority of our grapes come from independent growers that are known for their love of what they do, they share our vision to produce the best. Our winemaking practices are bent on quality, fanatical some say...we're not driven by the bottom line. We employ modern as well as ancient techniques in our winemaking, and grape growing. We sort of wear blinders; we don't pay attention to what everybody else is doing. We have noticed a pattern over the years, a large number of wineries and grape growers are affected by what others do and say...the latest trend, the hottest varietal, the newest process.

Winemaking is primarily the same as it was since before the birth of Christ...it's an organic process, totally natural. It's the winemakers perception of quality that makes the difference, it's our definition of what tastes good, same as yours — that's what matters in the end. Put our wines to the test and see if we're good enough to be your winemakers. 

Rocky Ridge is an all Zinfandel property of the well-regarded Mauritson family. Biale sources from this vineyard and its retail price puts it in a league with other high end Sonoma vintners, Gamba for example.  If you don’t recognize these names they are among the finest zinfandel producers in all of California. 

The blend here is 97% zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah, 1% Carignane

I’d recommend letting  this powerful wine open for, at least, 2 hours. This Manzanita Creek offering expresses the Rockpile AVA nicely. Lovely medium crimson color.  A highly aromatic blackberry, blueberry core vanilla from the oak and appealing spiciness typical of Rockpile, black pepper, clove, nutmeg. Deliciously complex on the palate with black fruits and spices, a smooth medium/full mouth feel, soft acidity and little tannin with a nice balance of fruit and acidity in the long finish.

I searched for this wine.  Here is what I found.  On the Winerywebsite it’s $65.

This is well worth the search.  Happy Hunting!!

 Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

This wine was brought by my sister and shared with dinner.  You can surely ask Two Old Hags if they can get it.