Zaca Mesa Z Cuvee 2013
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Wilfred
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For one of their lower-priced bottlings, this blend of 55% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is a great deal. The nose shows exuberant black raspberry, scarlet rose petals and fresh lilacs against a backdrop of dewy thyme and oregano. That herbal component carries strongly to the palate, giving nuance to tangy plum fruits. The savory touch would pair with everything from pasta to Asian-spiced beef.
Editors' Choice -
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
One of California's consistently fine Rhône style reds, the 2013—a blend of 55% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault—exhibits black fruit and dried earth in its flavors. It stays substantial and persistent on the palate while remaining bright and perky in the finish. (Tasted: July 26, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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2017-
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Zaca Mesa is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a family-owned and operated winery dedicated to the production of distinctive, single-vineyard Rhône-style wines on the Central Coast.
As a pioneer of California Rhône wines, they aim to create wines that showcase the distinct characteristics of their Santa Barbara County vineyard, taking special care in and out of the vineyard to keep quality first and foremost.
Just 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vineyards sit in the sweet spot between a cool and warm climate. The location and elevation give them the ability to grow dynamic, balanced Rhône grapes like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. At Zaca Mesa, they believe great wine begins in the vineyard. They are dedicated to crafting high quality estate-grown wines that showcase the layered nuances of their unique, high elevation vineyard site in Santa Barbara County’s beloved Santa Ynez Valley wine country.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.