TN: 2007 Radio Coteau Zinfandel Von Weidlich (stupendous!!)

WINE TALK
1

Wow, this is the best Zinfandel I’ve had all year. [dance-clap.gif]

Nose: dark chocolate-dipped strawberries, plum, and stone

Palate: hits you with an incomprehensible wall of flavor that cascades into a kaleidoscope of high-toned bramble fruit and black cherry with allspice, pink peppercorn, and charcoal.

Finish: modest structure shows up, especially on day 2, to carry the flavor forward, gradually declining into a lasting end note that reprises the minerality and red fruit from the nose.

One day 1, the first glass was sex in a bottle. On day 2, it was just as yummy and I noticed more complexity (but then again I was WRITING A TASTING NOTE so take that with a grain of salt or three), as well as a bit of heat in all the brightness. Day 3 was nice, too, with fruity, soft complexity, no heat, and better integration. If you decant this for an hour or two and serve it at cellar temperature you’ll have one the best Zinfandels out there. Not cheap @ $42, but I’m psyched to have plenty more. 94 points.

2

Dammit Scott! I’m been trying hard to avoid breaking down and buying and Radio Coteau. I enjoy their wines, but have just been trying to cut back on my purchasing. Your little note here does NOT help. That’s interesting to hear about the zin. Isn’t this the last year of the bottling? Sorry, I didn’t read your post closely enough, so maybe you mentioned that.

3

Where is Von Weidlich vineyard? It sounds killer!

4

According to R-C and IWC, it is. I don’t know why.

John, the vineyard is on a ridge top above Occidental in the RRV.

Given that locale, I fear a Pinot plot, and hold out hope for a reprieve like how the Feeney/Montafi situation resolved. But who knows. It is hard to imagine better Zin being made by someone else. This wine has been great for several vintages, although the 06 declined a bit after a great first bottle drunk on election night last year.

5

Not to worry, Scott. vonWeidlich is in good hands. It is being farmed now by BradAlper and it all goes to his & BillKnuttle’s Otimmino label.
That wines is right up there w/ the R-C in quality.

If you do a Google satellite image of MorelliLane and HarrisonGrade/Occidental/CA, you can get a great view of vonWeidlich, right there
on the NW corner of the intersection. Right across MorelliLane are the two other vnyds (Otimmino and RanchoBella) that Otimmino
gets there Zin grapes from. Not nearly as old as vonWeidlich. Their wines are a great examples of Zin in a more restrained/structured style.
Tom

6

Green Valley, really; special place.
Dry farmed, of course.
E

7

The "05 R-C VW ranks as one of the best zins I’ve ever had; unfortunately, I’ve had to pass on buying the more recent vintages.
Overall, R-C make some great vino!

8

Nice note, Scott. Really love this Zin.

9

Tom, [thankyou.gif] for the information.

It has been a while since I’ve had an Ottimino Zin, but at one point, when $30 was pretty splurgy, a bottle of Ottimino Zin was about the best I had tasted to that point in life. I think it was a 2001. I’ve noticed more cuvees from them at K&L, and it won’t be long before I give one a try.

Anyway, I’m VERY glad this old vine Zin isn’t getting ripped up.

10

Scott - Agreed! This was one of the best young American wines we have had in a while.

Dark, slightly cloudy ruby color; Dark fruit, spice and coffee aromas with black cherry, raspberry, spice and coffee flavors. All of that plus an herbal note and pepper on the long finish. At the very end of the finish some minerals kicked in. Very complex and balanced with little trace of the 15.2% alcohol. Sorry this note is so similar to Josh Raynolds’ (IWC) but he was really right on. Josh also stated that “This was the last vintage in which Eric Sussman had access to these dry-farmed vines, planted in 1937”. What a shame as this wine was very good and a wine I would buy again in a heartbeat. Decanted for about 30 minutes before serving. (93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[winner.gif]