Mauritson Wines Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2009

A lovely zinfandel, classic and balanced, with an elegant tannin-acid structure. Shows typical Dry Creek Valley spices and briar, in addition to ripe blackberry, cherry, currant, Dr. Pepper cola and tobacco flavors.

Mauritson was yet another of the outstanding Zinfandels from 2007. The wine is garnet in color, with a nose that is well balanced and herbaceous. Also, there are smoky notes of chocolate and raspberry. Continuing on to the palate, you are greeted by dark fruit and mint with less acidity than you might expect, creating a very plush mouthfeel with dusty tannins. Pink peppercorn and anise round out the flavors and are present mostly on the finish. Pair this elegant yet well-structured Zin with chicken livers and bleu cheese.

A little sweet with the glycerine of high alcohol, and there may be some residual sugar. That gives the raspberry, cherry and blackberry fruit a jelly-jam richness, with nuances of chocolate, anise liqueur and toast. Drink now.

Winemaker Notes - 93% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah. The nose is full of dark fruits and a complex array of brooding flavors. Aromas of blackberry, minerals, cracked pepper, blueberry pie, and sweet oak mingle harmoniously. The front palate is full of ripe and juicy tannins. This Zinfandel has plenty of structure for those of you who would like to lay it down. However, the tannins are broad shouldered without sharp edges for those who want to drink it now. The finish persists long after the last sip is gone; a combination of the structure and balanced acidity that have become a Mauritson hallmark. Please enjoy the 2009 Dry Creek Zinfandel over the next 6-8 years. Barrel aged 11 months in 80% French and 20% American oak.

A Zinfandel wine from California in USA. 2009 Mauritson Zinfandel Dry Creek 750ml

Rich and beautifully focused, with huckleberry and smoky licorice aromas and ripe, layered and balanced wild berry, sage and white pepper flavors. Drink now through 2014.

Rating: 93/100 - As reviewed by Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine (www.cgcw.com) in the September 2010 issue. There is no question but that this deep, impressively extracted wine embraces high ripeness, but it is far from being a simple study in late-harvest excess, for it is first and foremost defined by its concentrated blackberry fruit, and its accents of chocolate never threaten to be anything more. Its neatly placed oak adds just the right touch of sweet spice, and, if still a bit rough and raw at the finish, this is a rich and immensely flavorful offering that should age famously.Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine aging recommendation: Drinkable now. Further bottle aging can improve this wine.