By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: www.napacellars.com/
Regardless of what time of the year it is, I still love a good steak that’s been grilled outdoors. While it’s so easy to reach for the classic “cab and steak” combination, there are many times – depending on the way I season it – that I’ll pick a Zinfandel.
Napa Cellars is one of the brands that has “parents with lots of money” – it’s a premium winery that focuses in on smaller production values and quality products for the money.
Technical Data:
- Composition: 88% Zinfandel, 12% Petite Sirah
- Cooperage: 14 months on French and American Oak – 10% new
- Alcohol: 14.7%
- TA: 0.63 gl/100ml
- pH: 3.62
- Harvest Date: Sept. 14th – Oct. 23, 2009
- Release Date: July 20th 2011
- Production: 1100 cases
- Price: $20
Nose: Black raspberry, vanilla, cocoa, toast, cola and fresh herbs.
Taste: Very nice layers of raspberry patch, coca-cola, peppercorn, and leather notes lead into a spiced mid-palate that for me is still a bit too oaky – even when trying it again the 2nd day. I realize it’s a style that many fans of California Zin will appreciate, but the acids get a bit lost for me. Having said that, the finish is good and would go well with bbq foods.
