As I’ve blogged here before, Zinfandel is the first variety that truly spoke to me and put me on the road to the wine geek I am today. And I can recall that the bottle that flipped the switch was an estate Zin from the Lytton Springs Winery from the late 1970’s. This wine was an old vine field blend led by Zinfandel but also inter-planted with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mataro and Grenache. Today this vineyard produces the Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel I’ve reviewed here in the past.
Down the road a piece, across the one-lane Lambert bridge, is another winery who makes fine Zinfandel; Quivira. I’ve driven past this winery on my rounds in Dry Creek for work but have never stopped in for a tasting. I think the next time I’m in the area, just a day away, I might make this trip on the strength of their entry level bottling reviewed here.
Quivira is committed to biodynamic farming and no matter how you come down on this practice the wine here demonstrates that good things come from non-intervention. While I might be skeptical of the mystical elements of the biodynamic way, I am totally behind the stewardship of the land key to its practice.
Tasting Notes:
Quivira Vineyards and Winery, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2008 – ($20/sample) – Dark purple color with aromas of bramble, sage, fennel and tobacco. Plush plum and raspberry flavors with black pepper and mint finishing with moderate tannins and good acidity for a Zin. Textbook Dry Creek Zin at a great price.
14.8% ABV
Natural cork closure
[rating: 3.5/5]
Score: 89