This Rampant Oenophile typically thinks of Ravenswood as a supermarket wine. I enjoy tremendously their $12-$15 Cabernet for grilling out with friends, or their excellent $14 Merlot as a great wine for parties because it always pleases guests.
Imagine my surprise, then, tasting a truly exceptional Ravenswood Zinfandel that was anything but value priced. The Ravenswood Dickerson Vineyard Zinfandel 2006 delights the passions of Zinfandel mavens. It’s big and very ripe, but the fruit doesn’t assault the tongue. The red berries and cherry flavors are bright and refreshing and a perfect compliment to the spice and zest of peppercorn mixed with mineral textures. The color is as rich a red as the best Cabernet, and the bouquet offers unique floral tones that are tough to describe precisely.
Ravenswood works with Dickerson Vineyards to source the grapes for this fine Zinfandel, and the story behind their partnership reads like a California western. Dickerson is something of a maverick wine maker who has grown much magic from discarded farms. I am much impressed with this exceptional wine and intend to split a case with friends to savor this excellent Zinfandel for years to come. It’s modestly priced at $35-$40 locally, but offers more flavor at that price than most Zinfandels can ever hope to offer.
Imagine my surprise, then, tasting a truly exceptional Ravenswood Zinfandel that was anything but value priced. The Ravenswood Dickerson Vineyard Zinfandel 2006 delights the passions of Zinfandel mavens. It’s big and very ripe, but the fruit doesn’t assault the tongue. The red berries and cherry flavors are bright and refreshing and a perfect compliment to the spice and zest of peppercorn mixed with mineral textures. The color is as rich a red as the best Cabernet, and the bouquet offers unique floral tones that are tough to describe precisely.
Ravenswood works with Dickerson Vineyards to source the grapes for this fine Zinfandel, and the story behind their partnership reads like a California western. Dickerson is something of a maverick wine maker who has grown much magic from discarded farms. I am much impressed with this exceptional wine and intend to split a case with friends to savor this excellent Zinfandel for years to come. It’s modestly priced at $35-$40 locally, but offers more flavor at that price than most Zinfandels can ever hope to offer.
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