Grapelive Daily Pick
By Kerry Winslow
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2008 Baldwin Vineyards Zinfandel “Rattlesnake Ridge” Sonoma Valley. (Follow up notes from a recent visit to the vineyard, and a re-cap of tasting notes from Zap)
I recently visited the vineyard and enjoyed meeting Jerry Baldwin, after singing the praises of this wine at Zap (Zinfandel tasting) when I first tried it. The vineyard is set in a beautiful hillside location and overlooks the Sonoma Valley heading toward Kenwood, in fact I learned that one of the oldest vineyard sites in Sonoma, that was near a Wells Fargo Stagecoach stop, is only a mile and the scene from the winery is dramatic in contrasts. Baldwin is still working on some of the details of when and how this stunning Zin will be released, and I was very happy to hear the $50 price tag was really going to be a much more fair price of about $42, putting in line with other wines in its class, like Lamborn, Turley and Brown Estate. Since there will only be about 3 barrels worth released for this vintage, it is a good deal and a remarkable debut for this young vineyard. This Zin has the feel and focus of a great Bordeaux wine, but with the full and classic Zinfandel flavors and character, with plenty of rich fruit and sweet spices. As reviewed before it shows, blackberry, plum, raspberry and currant fruits with touches of lavender, bramble and subtle wood notes. Jerry tells me that the following release, the 2009 is doing great in barrel all ready and that it will really blow me away, if in case I was not that impressed with the 2008, which of course I was and continue to be marveled by! I can’t wait to try the finished released wine later this year, and also the second wine Baldwin makes from another vineyard from older vines on the valley floor, which is due out as well, later this year. I recommend getting on their mailing list and checking these wines out.
($42 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
*Barrel Sample (ZAP Tasting) Please note the label will different, as this was a quick mock up for the barrel sample and not the finished label.
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