2013 County Line, Zinfandel, Russian River Valley.
County Line, the second label of Radio-Coteau and winemaker Eric Sussman, is offering out some great wines for the 2013 vintage, especially the County Line Pinot Noir and this very attractive Zinfandel. The latest to the County Line set, the Russian River Zin comes from a vineyard farmed organic in the western regions of the AVA, a cooler site, but with old vines that give character, this plot is on a ridge and has good sun exposure to ensure ripeness, but cool nights to lift acidity and keep the alcohol down, this wine comes in around 14% and is made in neutral wood with natural winemaking techniques as is per normal for Sussman. The 2013 vintage is bursting with juicy fruit, medium weight body and lovely mouth feel, I was very impressed, it reminded me of old school Zinfandel from the eighties and early nineties, this is a great and honest Zin that can be enjoyed even by Pinot Noir lovers. The starting gun on this nicely crafted ruby hued Zin, brings light floral and spicy notes with black raspberry, plum and kirsch, along with black currant, briar, shaved cinnamon stick, sage and licorice/herb with a hint of tangy loganberry and cedar. This is young fresh Zinfandel that pleases throughout, entertains without being a showy wine, I will be grabbing a few bottles of this for myself, drink from 2014 to 2018.
($28 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
