2017 Dickinson Block Estate Zinfandel - Eden Rift Vineyards

Wild red plum, dried lavender, cranberry compote. Crunchy marionberry, white sage, spiced strawberry. Spring bramble and scrub brush, cinnamon and holiday spice. Cherry pit, prickly pear, and huckleberry patch lead a complex and lifted fruit-driven attack balanced out immediately by notes of savory rosemary and native Californian chaparral. Desert rose and wildflower bloom impart a gorgeous floral overtone that intersects seamlessly with paprika and pretty barrel spices. Soil notes in the form of sandy earth and crushed limestone are present but outmatched by the juicy and fresh-fruited core. Tart, lean, and remarkably balanced; expressing a surprisingly poised and Burgundian side of a variety often considered rugged and brutish. Medium plus in body with elevated acidity and mild tannin. This 2017 Dickinson Block Estate Zinfandel by Eden Rift Vineyards is an unconventional yet completely captivating cool climate red from San Benito County.

Located due east of the Monterey Bay in the foothills of the Galivan Mountains, Eden Rift is a legendary viticultural site that provides a virtual time capsule into the history of California wine production. This picturesque estate has been under vine consistently since 1849 and still contains many well-preserved remnants of glory days of old. This bottling, crafted by Eden Rift using Zinfandel from their heritage "Dickinson Block" planted in 1906, is an amazing example of the past and current potential of this remarkable estate. Although the climate at Eden Rift is quite cool - instigating the property to be planted over primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - somehow these ancient Zinfandel vines still thrive - and the wine they produce is nothing short of beguiling. Such freshness and lift is rarely captured in California Zin, and it is obvious that the Eden Rift team has facilitated something truly special here.