Jc Cellars Zinfandel Arrow Head Mountain 2004

The booming 15.3% alcohol, immediately detectable as I swirled the first pour in my glass, almost comes alive from this deep garnet/purple wine. Through the sharp sinus snap of the alcohol, rich layers of red and black fruits, sweet spices, toasted vanilla, and floral notes construct an incredible complexity that is remarkably intriguing. Black-cherry, plum, and cranberry seemed most prominent in both aroma and taste, as well scents of fall flowers, like mums, and the flavor and sweetness of soft caramel.

The true magic with this wine comes about 2 hours after the cork has been popped. read more...Any astringent alcohol burn in the nose mellows completely, and the original taste and aroma notes come even more alive. This wine truly has one of the best aroma profiles of any Zinfandel I have had in its class. This wine is extremely ripe, but by no means jammy, overly lush, or a fruit bomb. There are simply too many wonderful characteristics, and layers, for this wine to be charged with any one dominant description. As the wine continues to breathe, raspberry and brown sugar accents kindly introduce themselves, and the finish rounds out with amazing cracked pepper, minerals and even pine. Each sip covers and uncovers a new set of plausible explanations for what is really just an unbelievable 100% Zinfandel.

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March 2009

Varietals: 94% Zinfandel, 6% Petite Syrah Appellation: Sonoma Alcohol: 15.3% Comments: Even though this vineyard was only planted in 1996, its gives the flavor profile of an "old vines Zinfandel" vineyard. It contains a sweet, concentrated briery fruit component of cherries and raspberries. This is complimented by a spicy, peppery finish. Not a wine I would call varietally correct since in blind tastings it's commonly mistaken for a Syrah. The volcanic rock soil, Cooke clone, organic farming, and cropping at one ton per acre combine to give this vineyard its "old vine" effect.

October 2008

Varietals: 94% Zinfandel, 6% Petite Syrah Appellation: Sonoma Alcohol: 15.3% Comments: Even though this vineyard was only planted in 1996, its gives the flavor profile of an "old vines Zinfandel" vineyard. It contains a sweet, concentrated briery fruit component of cherries and raspberries. This is complimented by a spicy, peppery finish. Not a wine I would call varietally correct since in blind tastings its commonly mistaken for a Syrah. The volcanic rock soil, Cooke clone, organic farming, and cropping at one ton per acre combine to give this vineyard its "old vine" effect.

August 2009