I have tasted this wine, and have enjoyed it. As Orlando Magic was showing poor Atlanta Hawks, how talented our Magic Team is, I was enjoying the Napa Cellars Zinfandel with Chicken Parmesan. Wow the wine was fantastic, and the basketball game was great, and I enjoyed it all. The alcohol is 14.9% which caught up with me very fast.
Napa Cellars Zinfandel is deep dark ruby purple in the glass. Wine has a beautiful mouth feel. The nose reveals intense, ripe blackberries, strawberry jam, cinnamon and black pepper spice. The palate follows with juicy, rounded fruit flavors that mingle with layers of warm sweet oak. Perfect with grilled and barbeque meats. Pair this wine with Baby Back Ribs or Gourmet Pulled-Pork Sandwiches garnished with sweet and spicy coleslaw.
Stop by Lake Mary Cork&Olive the best Wine Bar & Wine Store in Lake Mary, well in Orlando, We can show you this great zinfandel the American Gem of a wine. This Mother’s day weekend, if you are treating your wife to a nice barbeque dinner get this wine. You will enjoy this smooth wine even without food.
I tasted the 2007, but the Napa Cellars website only had the 2006 information. I will update the informatio as they are made available.
If you need directions please visit the web site: http:// www.corkandoliveonline.com.
Antoney Manipadam, Certified Sommelier
Owner Lake Mary Cork&Olive
2006 ZINFANDEL
NAPA VALLEY
VINEYARD INFORMATION
Much of the fruit for this wine was sourced from the warmer regions of Napa Valley, including Calistoga, St. Helena and Pope Valley. In 2006, the long growing season and moderate harvest allowed the grapes to hang on the vine for longer than usual. In some cases the grapes were not picked until the second week of November. Because Zinfandel ripens unevenly, the extended hang time was a blessing and helped develop the intense fruit characteristics seen in this wine.
WINEMAKING
The Napa Cellars 2006 Zinfandel was tank fermented in separate lots for approximately 14 days. The lots were then separately aged in French and American oak where after eight months, they were blended together for the final blend and aged an additional 13 months. In order to retain the big fruit characteristics, only 11% new oak was used. Zinfandel is usually a wine that is ready on release and the Napa Cellars 2006 Zinfandel is no exception.
WINEMAKER NOTES
This Zinfandel is dark purple and opaque in the glass. The nose reveals intense, ripe berries, candied strawberry preserves and cinnamon spice. The palate follows with juicy, rounded fruit flavors that mingle with layers of warm, supple tannins leading to a long, plush finish. Perfect with barbeque, try pairing the wine with Baby Back Ribs or Gourmet Pulled-Pork Sandwiches garnished with sweet and spicy coleslaw.
