SN: 86

Snooth Editorial Score

Original Score: 86
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Kenwood Zinfandel 2008

Winemaker's Notes:

Kenwood has prided itself on its highly acclaimed, consistent gold-medal winning Sonoma Zinfandel since it was first produced in 1970. The zest and zing of this varietal make it one of our winemaker's favorites. Our Sonoma County Zinfandel is blended from vineyards located in Sonoma County's best Zinfandel appellations, the Sonoma, Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. A portion of the blend comes from old-vine vineyards that have been producing excellent grapes since the 1940's. The 2008 vintage had a light crop that ripened gently over a mild summer and fall. It was picked in September and October as the individual vineyards reached their peak of ripeness and flavor. Each lot of grapes was fermented and aged separately in French & American oak barrels for 19 months. After aging, the wines were removed from barrels and blended for taste and balance just prior to bottling in August of 2010. Petite Sirah as well as a touch of Sangiovese & Barbera were blended into the wine just before bottling to add additional complexity and structure. The 2008 vintage of Sonoma County Zinfandel is enjoyable now but with its excellent balance of tannins and acidity it should continue to improve with cellar ageing.

Region: USA » California » Sonoma Valley

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Winery: Kenwood Vineyards

Color: Red

Blend: Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Barbera

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Kenwood Vineyards:

Located in the heart of the Sonoma Valley, Kenwood Vineyards is dedicated to producing premium wines truly representative of Sonoma County’s world-class vineyards. Kenwood Vineyards was established in 1970 in the former Pagani Brothers Winery, a historic cellar dating back to 1906. Thoroughly refurbished and modernized, the facility now boasts more than 125 stainless steel fermenting tanks and large oak uprights, and 20,000 small French and American oak barrels, all devoted to Kenwood Vineyards’ “small lot” style of winemaking. In addition to the 22-acre vineyard surrounding the winery, Kenwood Vineyards sources grapes from dozens of vineyards – many farmed sustainably, using natural soil amendments and pest controls whenever possible rather than chemicals - in Sonoma County’s best appellations, including Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Mountain. Each lot from each vineyard is kept separate throughout the winemaking process, enabling the winemaker to bring it to its fullest potential. This “small lot” or “cuvee” style of winemaking also enables the winemaker to draw on an exceptionally broad “palette” to assemble wines that showcase classic character, subtle complexity and superb balance. As a result, every Kenwood Vineyards wine – whether Table Wine Series, Sonoma Series, Reserve, Jack London Vineyard or Artist Series – is consistent in quality and consistently delicious. Read less

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Editorial Reviews for Kenwood Zinfandel

Gregory Dal Piaz

238,748

01/01/2012

The nose opens with a bit of dried berry fruit and a nice sage brushy note, topped with spice and ink accents. On the palate, this is rather light bodied with bright, raspberry and red cherry fruit, accented with nice briary spice all laid over a soft bed of tannins with a hint of astringency. Nice earthy spice on finish, which shows dried cherry fruit and moderate length. 86pts

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External Reviews for Kenwood Zinfandel

07/05/2011

"Rating: 83/100 - As reviewed by Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine (www.cgcw.com) in the September 2010 issue. The search for value sometimes leads to happy discovery and at others to real disappointment. Sadly

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11/12/2010

Rating: 83/100 - As reviewed by Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine (www.cgcw.com) in the September 2010 issue. The search for value sometimes leads to happy discovery and at others to real disappointment. Sadly, this bottling is among the latter and, despite its high percentage of Zinfandel, is a thin and dilute wine and is closer in character to generic jug wine than to anything we recognize as varietal.Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine aging recommendation: Drinkable now. Unlikely to improve with further aging.

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Food Pairings for Kenwood Zinfandel

Tasting Notes:

Red-fruit aromas of raspberries and cherries combine with spicy notes of vanilla and pepper. Complex tannins with excellent mouthfeel and a lingering finish.