Susan&I tried this last night w/ our vegetarian dinner:
1. DryCreekVnyd Zin HeritageVines/SonomaCnty (VineAge: 20 yrs; 84% Zin/16% PS; 14.5%; www.DryCreekVineyard.com) 2011: Dark color; very strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/quite spicy bit licorice/RCCola light toasty/oak/pungent quite perfumed nose; soft strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/very spicy/licorice/RCCola light toasty/vanilla/oak very balanced flavor w/ modest/smooth/well-integrated tannins; long lush/ripe/balanced strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin very spicy/perfumed light vanilla/toasty/oak finish w/ modest tannins; seems much more like RRV Zin than DCV Zin; the best Heritage Zin from DryCreekVnyds I can recall; an absolute steal at $19.00 (KK)
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I have followed DryCreekVnyd from the very start, the '72 CheninBlanc from RochioliVnyd and the '72 GamayBeaujolais. Both were absolutely delicious wines and started my love affair w/ DCV. DaveStare's first Zin was the '73, put up in a Burgundy btl. I was rather underwhelmed by it, to say the least. It was a lightweight & pretty red, but just that. But you have to remember, back there in the mid-'70's, Zin had to be big/powerful/oak-laden, and alcoholic; the more the better. Fortunately, my taste in Zin has changed over the yrs.
The HeritageVines Zin is from a selection of old vines that DCV propagated some 20 yrs ago in their vnyd at the wnry. It's their least expensive Zin and long been a favorite of mine for the $$. This new '11 vintage seems like a real step up over previous vintages. It tends to have a bright/spicy/pretty Zin character that speaks of DryCreekVlly. This '11 seems to be more like a RRV Zin in intensity and character w/ more blackberry fruit and less pretty raspberry fruit. It's a great buy for a value Zin at $19. I expect it will show up in our local TJ's at a somewhat cheaper price. Back up the truck.
Tom