1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel 2016
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Winemaker and Storyteller Bob Blue, with decades of experience, has married Zinfandel to the use of new and used bourbon barrels. Hmm, what a concept? I didn't know what to expect, perhaps some smokiness? The 2016 1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel is quite delicious. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows up with bramble berries and oak in its aromas and flavors. Its smoky finish (go figure) pairs it perfectly with a full fledge barbeque with plenty of wood-smoked meats. (Tasted: August 1, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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Tasting Panel
Deep ruby color; ripe and luscious with blackberry and spice. Tangy, long, and balanced, this wine was aged in new and used bourbon barrels under the tutelage of winemaker Bob Blue. 19% Petite Sirah is blended in.
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Wilfred
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The mighty buffalo is an iconic symbol of American heritage, a heritage woven with a thousand stories, unique traditions and a pioneering spirit. Our country’s history of hard work and tenacity lives on today in each of us and continues to be at the essence of America’s character. This is the inspiration for 1,000 Stories, a unique wine aged in new bourbon barrels - a reflection of our winemakers’ pioneering spirits. It wasn’t a quick process, but creating something by hand to meet exacting standards seldom is.
What started as an experiment has now become a passion. Unbeknownst to the rest of the winery, Charlie and Bob had acquired some bourbon barrels from a distillery in Kentucky in hopes that wine grown from a small parcel of premium Zinfandel and matured in the bourbon barrels would achieve a unique complexity. As time passed and the wine evolved, it became clear that the result would be exceptional. No longer a secret, Bob and Charlie’s story is shared in each bottle of 1,000 Stories.
California is a winemaking colossus; by itself it is the fourth largest producer in the world. Red wine accounts for 56% of the total by volume, and red grapes 63% of total acres planted. In addition, a number of California red wines are heralded as being among the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.
While the state’s incredibly diverse geography, soils and microclimates allow for a wide array of styles, the key factor unifying California red wine is the abundance of sunshine and a long, consistent growing season. This leads to well-developed fruit marked both by impressive ripeness and balancing acidity.
The state’s most famous red wine region, of course, is Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as king. But California boasts a wealth of other impressive appellations. The much larger and climatically varied Sonoma County also produces world class California Cabernet, along with wonderful examples of California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Fine versions of Cabernet and Zinfandel hail from Paso Robles as well, which is also gaining fame with Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. As for Pinot Noir, terrific examples can be found from AVA’s such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills. Wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are making wonderful Syrahs, and the Sierra Foothill appellations are proving to be an experimental hotbed, with Italian and Spanish varietals employed to great effect.
This of course is a mere sketch. The subject of California red wine is as deep and broad as an ocean, and absolutely a joy to explore!