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SN: 91
Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves Zinfandel Belle Canyon Estate 2009
Editorial Review by Gregory Dal Piaz:
Subdued on the nose though what is here is very clean and very fresh. Forest floor accented aromas of wild berry jam, coconut and something both minty and lightly mushroomy. Plump on entry and a touch angular even, this is full-bodied and rich with fine wild cherry fruit up front that is pure and very well focused right through the mid-palate. The balance here improves with a little air. This has real height in the mouth with emerging wild berry nuances on the back end along with layered oak notes that build on the finish. The finish really builds as well, with good length and gathering intensity. That spicy mushroom tone adds wonderful detail to the freshness of the fruit here. Intense without being massive. I like this. 91pts
Add winemaker's notesBella Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery in Dry Creek valley specializing in limited production lots of zinfandel and Rhone Varietals.
Editorial Reviews for Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves Zinfandel Belle Canyon Estate
Subdued on the nose though what is here is very clean and very fresh. Forest floor accented aromas of wild berry jam, coconut and something both minty and lightly mushroomy. Plump on entry and a touch angular even, this is full-bodied and rich with fine wild cherry fruit up front that is pure and very well focused right through the mid-palate. The balance here improves with a little air. This has real height in the mouth with emerging wild berry nuances on the back end along with layered oak notes that build on the finish. The finish really builds as well, with good length and gathering intensity. That spicy mushroom tone adds wonderful detail to the freshness of the fruit here. Intense without being massive. I like this. 91pts
Member Reviews for Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves Zinfandel Belle Canyon Estate
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A delicious Zin, made from two old Alexander Valley Vineyards (Big River Ranch and Todd Brothers Ranch), that has softened and broadened nicely in the last year or two. Deep, complex nose shows dark berry and almost port-like plum/prune fruit, along with floral notes of rose hips and violet, a hint of sorghum, and lots of toasty oak. Smooth and soft at this point, but with plenty of structure to keep it fresh.
Big River Ranch is a beautiful vineyard tucked into the sharp loop of the Russian River just north of Fitch Mountain in Healdsburg, in the southernmost reaches of Alexander Valley. This is a good Zinfandel, but one I remember enjoying more a year or two ago when it displayed more fruit. Currently, the nose and flavors are more earthy/gamey/weedy and Claret-like. Notes of tobacco, cooked figs, prunes, and dark cherries are apparent along with some herbal/mint nuances. Muscular in the mouth and still relatively tannic. Solid, full-bodied Zinfandel that just didn't seem very charming to me in this tasting.
Lot's of aromatics right away in the bouquet.Juicy red berries and chewy caramel on the tounge and a nice vanilla spice in the finish.
Everything I love about Zinfandel, little jam, little spice. What I think makes this wine so popular, is the balance. Nothing is too over the top and the lingering finish is so pleasant, sip to sip.
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