I knew it would someday snow in Hoosierville (Fort
Wayne, Indiana) and that after cleaning, laundry, and
work-I-brought-home-with-me tasks to fill the hours of the snow day, the time
would come to snuggle up with a nice bottle of wine. I was prepared with a
recommendation from native Hoosier Tim Fish, senior editor, Wine Spectator, conveniently
based in Sonoma County, CA.
FYI
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the state of Indiana. Demonym
is a term for the residents of a locality.
I found two of his recommendations at my local Cap
‘N Cork specialty retailer: Buehler
Zinfandel Napa Valley 2012 (88 points, $20), and Dry
Creek Zinfandel Sonoma County Heritage Vines 2012
(90, $20).
Without Tim Fish, Zinfandel was not on my list of
must-haves; this is the most Zinfandel I have purchased in years. However, consumption
by others has remained steady over the years, so the vines are old vines some dating
back a century or more; www.snooth.com
says “some of the greatest examples of terroir in California are found in
Zinfandel.” www.winemag.com 2013 list of
California’s Zinfandel Hot Spots as: Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley,
Lodi, Sierra Foothills, and Mendocino.
Zinfandel is one of the most popular grapes planted
in the United States along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and
Pinot Noir. It is California’s most widely planted red grape, and is exclusively
planted in California as it has been lost elsewhere (or is the same grape once found
in Croatia called Crljenak Kasteljanskior, or is the same grape as Italy’s
Primitivo which could be as the vineyards were planted by Italian-American
immigrants).
There are three styles of Zinfandel: Light-bodied,
Medium-bodied, Full-bodied. Light-bodied are as you imagine drinking on a sunny
breezy day – light, fresh-forward berry flavors, drinkable with or without
food. They are the most abundant and most popular. Medium-bodied are more
full-flavored and spicy. Full-bodied are deep, rich, and ideal for aging. Alcohol
content varies too with full-bodied containing up to 16%. Over the years
Zinfandel has been made in many styles according to www.winemag.com:
red, white, rose, sweet, dry, late-harvest, Beaujolais-style, and even
sparkling.
Faced with my two selections, I opened Buehler
first. Buehler Vineyards, according to my Wine Yoda Tony, is a good name and an
old name of a small family-owned vineyard. At www.buehlervineyards.com,
this Zinfandel is called a “wine crafted for immediate enjoyment” and I agree. Not
only was it delightful on my snow day, the remainder came out of the
refrigerator the next day retaining much of its taste.
As Dry Creek Vineyard is a favorite winery of mine and my wine-loving friends, I am saving that bottle for a dinner together. Because the Buehler was so good, I went back to Cap ‘N Cork to get another bottle of it. In addition, thanks to knowledgeable wine salesman Christian, I found and left with a special bottle of Dry Creek Vineyard 2011 Estate Zinfandel, Spencer’s Hill Vineyard, Single Vineyard Series. Per their website, “Spencer’s Hill Zinfandel is grown in two small Zinfandel parcels in our estate Endeavour vineyard. The small clusters and low yields from this part of the vineyard provide us with fruit that is rich, ripe and full of expressive blackberry Zinfandel flavors. Named after Kim and Don Wallace’s son, Spencer, this outstanding wine is as precocious as its namesake and expresses true Dry Creek Valley terroir.” Only 452 cases were produced and this bottle was destined for Vintner’s Select Club. Now, it is waiting for us Hoosiers to enjoy!
