Most of my Top 10 were from the Old Vines Offline Redux that Mr. Tuite so generously hosted in August. I think my two favorites from that day were the 1988 Dickerson and the 2001 Geyserville. And a recent 2014 Carlisle Montafi was also fantastic. Our last one, unfortunately. Great topic, Tom!
Didn’t dive deep into Zin this year, and probably have forgotten some, but had a few memorable ones. Think I’ve mentioned the 2014 Fields Family Stampede already a few times. Amazing stuff. Also had a 1996 Turley Dogtown - excellent and still punching vibrantly. 2018 Maitre de Chai Stampede also wonderful.
As a winemaker, I have to say I’m starting to see why Joel Peterson has always maintained that Zin, and working with Zin vines, is much harder to do than Pinot. Very hard to pick that perfect window on them and even when you do, the soak up and behave non-linearly after crush.
Agreed, great list as always Tom! Very happy to have a handful of those in the cellar.
Zin of the year was for sure the 1968 Mayacamas Late Harvest that I drank the other day. Next on the list would be 2009 Bedrock/Bedrock, 2015 Once & Future Teldeschi Frank’s Block, and 2015 Bucklin Upper Fifth Vineyard.
Yeah and there’s no way I’d pay retail price ($75-80) for their Zinfandel’s. Managed to grab some of the '16 Secret Stones on clearance at Wine Exchange and I’m really excited to open one of those up too.
We opened a 2014 Black Sears last night. It was outstanding. Perfectly smooth, plenty of spice to balance the fruit and am all around pleasure to drink.
The two most memorable are 2013 and 2014 Sky Zin - have had multiples bottles of each this year - and a few different vintages of Bedrock Oakville Farmhouse (a field blend with Zin). These are excellent wines.
Had a bunch of good ones this year, but top of the pile would have to be the ‘17 Carlisle Papera and ‘17 Bedrock Papera followed by the ‘16 Carlisle Papera.