Collier Falls Hillside Estate Primitivo 2014
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Primitivo Hillside Estate gives an earthy nose of tilled soil, fungi and iron ore over a core of baked cherries, Ceylon tea and mulberries with touches of spice cake, dates and sultanas. Full-bodied, rich and seductively fruited in the mouth, the firm, chewy frame tones the fruit down nicely on the long, spicy finish.
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Wine Spectator
Supple and seamless, with lively raspberry and green peppercorn flavors that glide along a plump, zesty finish. Drink now through 2023.
Collier Falls is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Healdsburg, California’s beautiful Dry Creek Valley. They make limited quantities of hillside estate red wines from 20 acres of their own sustainably-farmed vineyards. Each year they strive to grow outstanding fruit and make world-class wines in Sonoma County. The wines of Collier Falls express the true flavors of the grapes, and are exceptional examples from this wonderful wine growing region. The name Collier Falls comes from the waterfall below the Zinfandel vineyards, Collier Falls wines are found in the restaurants of legendary chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Charlie Palmer, and Thomas Keller.
Loved for its inky, brambly, fruit-driven wines, the Primitivo grape actually has Croatian origin. Primitivo landed in Italy in the late 1800s and became an important variety in the hot, dry, southern region of Puglia. Here it was named from the Latin word, primativus, meaning "first to ripen." Somm Secret—No one knew Primitivo and Zinfandel were the same until 1994 when DNA profiling at UC Davis finally revealed the link. The grape goes by the name of Tribidrag in Croatia and is a parent to Plavac Mali.
A multifaceted and highly reputable sub-region of Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley is responsible for a wide range of wine styles—both red and white. One of the smallest AVAs in California, Dry Creek Valley has a winning combination of ideal geography and climate. Fertile, well-drained soils create concentrated varietal character while long, warm days, bookended by cool nights, allow grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness and balance. The warm and welcoming appellation is home to a number of family-owned vineyards and wineries that place a strong emphasis on sustainable farming practices.
Zinfandel reigns supreme here and still produces in a great number of very old vineyards—often 100 years old or older. These old vines create a powerful, voluptuous and sultry wine unlike those of any other region. Sauvignon Blanc, the valley’s signature white grape, also performs exceptionally well. Many other varieties grow comfortably here, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah. Petite Sirah is often found in blends with Zinfandel.