Ravenswood Teldeschi Vineyard Zinfandel 2010
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Back in the day, Ravenswood was responsible from some of the deepest, most potent and eminently ageworthy Zinfandels around, and those sourced from Dry Creek’s Valley’s Teldeschi Vineyard were arguably the purest varietal expressions of all. One of the brightest stars of what was a tricky vintage, this one from 2010 is an altogether classic look at the grape that makes quick work of any notion that Zinfandel necessarily must be enjoyed while still in the flush of youth. Its structure, its energy and its amazing fruity depth combine to unequivocally guarantee that it will do nothing but improve for another five to ten years, and, as an aside, though Ravenswood may be gone, its founder, Joel Peterson, is now making wines under the Once & Future label, including a Teldeschi Zin that is well worth seeking out.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is classic Dry Creek Zin—robust, heady, rich in tannins, spicy and insanely flavorful. Explodes with briary, brambly wild berries, mocha, tobacco, anise, dried pine needles and exotic sandalwood notes. Really delicious now, and should age well over the next 10 years, gradually mellowing and shedding fruit and tannins.
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Wine & Spirits
Grown on benchland vineyards planted in 1905 and 1910, this wine includes carignane and petite sirah. Its concentrated red fruit flavor is overlain with blueberry and blackberry scents, its meaty and powerful tannins carrying a dark fruit extract that tastes like blueberry skins. This is meaty and ferrous, needing bottle age to settle.
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Wine Spectator
Vibrant and zesty, with bright raspberry and cinnamon aromas and focused, briary flavors of cherry, cedar and cracked white pepper. Finishes on a crisp mineral note.
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Fueled initially by the inspiration and winemaking skills of Joel Peterson, aided and abetted by his business partner W. Reed Foster, Ravenswood winery has been dedicated to top quality, hand-crafted wine since the first crush in 1976. Every Ravenswood wine carries a unique vintage and vineyard identity in addition to the intense powerful – gothic – character with which the winery has come to be associated.
A key to Ravenswood’s success is their long-standing relationships with over 60 independent grape growers. Vineyards are chosen for their location, age, yield and special flavor characteristics. At Ravenswood, they are devoted to working with growers who share their philosophy about high quality.
Ravenswood Vineyard Designate wines are made employing what Joel Peterson refers to as “stubborn and impractical” Old World enological practices. Wines are fermented in small wooden tanks using wild, natural yeasts and punched down by hand three to five times per day. The wines are characterized by intense, spicy aromas supported by rich, berry flavors and long, clean finishes.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.