Alderbrook Vineyard and Winery

Alderbrook makes several good Zins. This is my favorite of the recent releases, mostly because it’s so essential: 100 percent Zinfandel, all from the Old Barn estate vineyard in Dry Creek Valley, all harvested on the same day. That’s about as good a snapshot of a grape grown in a place as you can get. It’s also an eloquent example of how Zinfandel, grown right, can carry significant alcohol (15.3%) without losing its balance. The limited edition wine is available only at the winery, offered originally to its wine club members only.

The aromas are classic: sweet/jammy blueberries and blackberries with some meaty earth bass notes. The wine enters as plush mouthful, but it’s no fruit bomb. Instead it goes directly into a balanced dance of fruit, acid, and tannin that fills up your whole tasting chamber. The finish is surprising light yet richly redolent of the opening aromas. Overall, this Zinfandel is pleasing from start to finish, and would be a fine complement to a wide range of foods.

Reviewed August 13, 2007 by Thom Elkjer.