Zinfandel
75cl * Vegan * 15.0% ABV * Mendocino County, California, USA
Known for its Mediterranean climate and lush rolling hills, the coastal area of Mendocino County no doubt reminded early Italian and Swiss-Italian settlers of home as they decided to plant the valleys throughout much of the North Coast in the late 1800s. The Tuscan and Umbrian immigrants favoured their beloved Zinfandel, Muscat, Malvasia and Palomino. However, it wasn’t until 1963 that Dr. Donald Edmeades, a Pasadena cardiologist, planted 24 acres in the tiny hamlet of Philo, making him the first modern-day grower to do so in that remote and rugged Anderson Valley.
In 1972, son Deron officially founded the family winery and launched the Edmeads brand. It quickly established an outstanding reputation not only for single-site and single-vineyard Anderson Valley-grown wines, but for lusty, mountain Zinfandels that won gold medals and earned high scores from critics. In 1988 Edmeades was purchased by Jess Jackson and it became one of the very first wineries to join the Jackson Family Wines portfolio. The team continue to work side by side with a small group of growers, who year after year produce some of Mendocino County’s most highly-prized grapes and continue the estates' minimal intervention approach to winemaking to produce expressive, terroir-driven wines.
Lush and velvety, the Mendocino County Zinfandel opens with spicy cinnamon and clove aromas. Baking spices give way to black cherries, blackberries, black currants, a hint of chocolate and dried sage. The texture is round and full-bodied. Subtle and integrated tannins accentuate the richness of the wine, while pleasant acidity keeps it fresh on the long, satisfying finish.
Infinitely food-friendly, you can drink this with anything from rich stews and barbecued meat and to roasted vegetables, and pizzas. It also goes particularly well with crispy aromatic duck, marinated ribs, and smoky Mexican cuisine.
“Coastal vineyards from Mendocino and native fermentation produce a concentrated and balanced expression of mountain Zinfandel. Aromas of Christmas spice, cinder and baked blackberry tart introduce this rich Zinfandel from small growers throughout Mendocino County. Lushly fruited, the palate shows concentrated flavours of plum blackberry compote and a density of dark cherry flesh. There is plenty of zest and spice to this wine with clove and cinnamon, but it finishes undeniably fresh.” 92 points, Decanter, Tasted by: Clive Pursehouse as part of ‘American Zinfandel on Zinfandel Day’ (Oct 2023)