Lot 44 2023 Dry Creek Zinfandel 750ml

Zinfandel and Primitivo are essentially the same grape, both clonal selections having originated from the Croatian grape Crljenak. Today, most wineries in Sonoma County use the Zinfandel moniker while folks in the other region known for this variety, Puglia in Italy, use Primitivo.

Originally marketed under its originating label as a $50+/bottle Biodynamically-grown, single-vineyard designated Dry Creek Primitivo, Lot 44 is a spectacular example of what I have chosen (for marketing purposes) to designate as a Dry Creek Zinfandel.

However, what is so fascinating and compelling about this wine, is that it beautifully combines the more savory and chocolatey inclinations of Italian Primitivo with the rich brambly blackberry, raspberry framboise liqueur, and stewed plum notes of Dry Creek Zinfandel. 

This will obviously make a great cellar defender drinking as well as it does now, but will also age another decade easily. Fantastic stuff!

The source vineyard (not the producer), the biodynamically-farmed Treborce Vineyard, is itself a true labor of love. Originally planted on St. George rootstock in 1999, the vines were all painstakingly grafted over to 100-year old budwood sourced from legendary vineyards in Dry Creek Valley and the Geyserville area. Today it serves as a source for many a high-end or Reserve Zinfandel and/or Primitivo bottlings.

At it's most essential, this is a soulful wine that resonates with history and authenticity. It has tremendous depth and complexity (in fact, tasting it unfold in the glass is quite intellectually stimulating) while also being an immensely pleasurable imbibement. I cannot recommend this highly enough...Zin-lovers, of course, will find this wine quite compelling, but I also think Napa red fans will enjoy the palate-staining structure and hedonic complexity not to mention the varietal purity of a robust red wine raised in 100% neutral French oak barrels. Like I said, a truly authentic treat!

Deep purple/opaque core and an electric purple hue around the edges this is fantastically extracted. It explodes out of the glass with ripe, brambly blackberry and chocolate-covered black cherry complexed with framboise liqueur, gobs of black pepper and tobacco leaf haloed with powdery rose petal florals. Absolutely fantastic bouquet! Warm on entry with wild berry jam and cocoa notes coating a palate-staining structure of black pepper and tobacco laced tannins that unleash more waves of chocolate-covered black cherry, stewed plums, sandalwood, and tobacco leaf. Given the abundance of chocolate/cocoa notes here, it is hard to believe this wine was raised up in 100% neutral barrel! Rich, ripe, complex, savoury and powerful, this is a true classic!

95% Zinfandel/Primitivo, 5% Petite Sirah
100% Dry Creek single-vineyard
15.5% alc., pH 3.5, TA 6.27 (the low pH and robust TA balances the wine beautifully)
225 cases available