2021 Limerick Lane, Zinfandel, Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County.
Limerick Lane Winery winemaker Chris Pittenger says this wine, 100% Zinfandel, is a blend of estate-grown fruit and a handful of old vine sites from around the region, with the percentages of each site changing vintage to vintage to produce a wine of pleasure and balance, as this fine 2021 version shows off with deep and juicy fruit density, youthful freshness and underlying smooth tannic structure. This 2021 flagship wine from Limerick Lane is dark purple and garnet in the glass with dark berries and floral notes on the bouquet that leads to a full bodied palate of black raspberry, sweet plum, candied cherry and Mission fig fruits, as well as anise, sage, mocha, cedar and vanilla spice accents. Smoothly rich with almost creamy layering this wine avoids overt heaviness and the subtle grip makes it a good companion to hearty foods and especially meat dishes and hard cheeses, especially Basque versions. Karen Francis DeGolia, who has come back to be the owner again at Limerick Lane has made it her mission to push the winery forward and from what I’ve tasted things are looking good here and the current wines are an exciting set of offerings.
The Limerick Lane Winery is a 53-acre estate located in the northeast corner of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, that the winery says, could be its own sub-appellation as the topography and weather are so unique, making for distinctive wines and a great place to visit. In an appellation renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Limerick Lane grows and produces a set of world-class Zinfandel and Rhone-style wines, comparing well with likes of Bedrock, Ridge, Carlisle Winery, Biale and Bucklin to name a few. The property sits west of Highway 101, as the winery continues, at the exact point within Sonoma County where soil, water levels, rocks, sunshine, wind, and fog meet, allowing deep concentration, ripe flavors and a nice balancing acidity and supple tannins. The wine, which is close to 100% de-stemmed and can see some native yeast fermentations, macerates and going through primary in large 4 ton open top fermenters, after which it is then aged in predominantly neutral French oak barrels, and matured anywhere between 12-16 months, depending on the vintage. This winery has been completely re-invented in the last decade and the wines have became big hits and this one is a great way to start exploring them.
($46 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive