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Wine Recommendation
McDowell Valley Vineyards
2003 "Coro"(Mendocino)
I was surprised by the blend in this wine, the second year in the Coro program for winemaker Bill Crawford and McDowell Valley Vineyards. This winery is rightly celebrated as one of California’s historic Syrah houses – yet the wine has more Zinfandel (65%) than any other 2003 Coro, and only one bottling in the program’s whole history has had a higher percentage. The Zin in question comes from Brutocao Cellars’ Bliss Ranch; the rest of the wine is Syrah and Petite Sirah from McDowell’s own vineyards in McDowell Valley.
The wine’s a confection aromatically: vanilla, caramel, raspberries, coffee, mocha and violets. (Believe me, it smells better than it lists.) The aromas are all there in the flavors as well, embraced in a red, raisiny Zinfandel crush-hug. The alcohol’s north of 15%, and the tannins are big and fuzzy, so this wine grabs your mouth and doesn’t let go. The 2002 McDowell Coro benefited hugely from a long decanting for current drinking, and this one should as well. My plan, however, would be to cellar for at least three years. The wine is packed with good things that need time to knit so you can pour them out of the bottle and enjoy.
Reviewed July 4, 2006 by Thom Elkjer.
Other reviewed wines from McDowell Valley Vineyards
The Wine
Winery: McDowell Valley Vineyards |
The Reviewer
Thom Elkjer
Thom Elkjer has been reviewing wines professionally for more than ten years. He has contributed to Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, served as Wine Editor for Wine Country Living and is Wine Editor for WineCountry.Com. He also writes for newspapers and magazines in the U.S. and Europe and judges at major international wine competitions. |