A red wine from Mendocino County’s Redwood Valley, California – the vineyard was planted in the 1930s. A dense, opaque garnet red, with a brick red showing (with age) at the edges. Alcohol is listed as 16.2%! The perfume is filled with spices – cinnamon, clove in particular, black cherry, raspberry, sage, blackcurrant and elderberry. Concentrated and unctuous, but remaining on the medium side of full-bodied despite that whack of alcoholic ripeness. Fruit is plush and rounded, lit by an integrated acidity – staying away from jamminess – and the overall impression is quite elegant, despite that heat. Nothing leaps out – oak is muted and tannin is soft and fine. A savoury and herbal line balances the plush flavours. The finish, as expected is smooth and sweetish, but has a long, lingering length, with a little warmth (from the alcohol). 93pts
Edmeades Piffero Vineyard Zinfandel 2001
