Green & Red Vineyards
Tip Top Vineyard Zinfandel
Napa Valley, California, USA
Splash decanted; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2017 “Tip Top Vineyard” pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe black and red fruits: brambles, plums, cherry lozenges, black pepper, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This worked really well with a variety of grilled fare though I suspect a few more years in the cellar would help add some complexity. Drink now with patience through 2032.
Splash decanted; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2017 “Tip Top Vineyard” pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe black and red fruits: brambles, plums, cherry lozenges, black pepper, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This worked really well with a variety of grilled fare though I suspect a few more years in the cellar would help add some complexity. Drink now with patience through 2032.
Jul 26th, 2024Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2016 “Tip Top Vineyard” pours, a deep ruby color with a near opaque core, medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe, black fruits: predominantly, blackberries, figs, black cherry, black pepper, pipe tobacco, some mushrooms, potting soil and gym sock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, particularly the black pepper. The finish is medium+ with some noticeable heat, but not overly distracting. This is a wonderful Napa Valley Zinfandel that’s in a really good place right now, but should have many years of enjoyment down the road. Delicious with lamb/beef kofta. Drink now through 2031.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2016 “Tip Top Vineyard” pours, a deep ruby color with a near opaque core, medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe, black fruits: predominantly, blackberries, figs, black cherry, black pepper, pipe tobacco, some mushrooms, potting soil and gym sock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, particularly the black pepper. The finish is medium+ with some noticeable heat, but not overly distracting. This is a wonderful Napa Valley Zinfandel that’s in a really good place right now, but should have many years of enjoyment down the road. Delicious with lamb/beef kofta. Drink now through 2031.
Jul 4th, 2024
Bramble berry fruit boysenberry spice fair amount of oak and spice background fairly young for a 2013 seems like it would age well decent tannins great fruit tannin balance
Bramble berry fruit boysenberry spice fair amount of oak and spice background fairly young for a 2013 seems like it would age well decent tannins great fruit tannin balance
Nov 8th, 2017Elegant, true to variety, balanced, menthol, Red fruit
Elegant, true to variety, balanced, menthol, Red fruit
Aug 19th, 2016Nicely balanced, grippy tannins. Not overwrought
Nicely balanced, grippy tannins. Not overwrought
Feb 25th, 2016
One of my favorite classic zin producers for many years now. Cherry, raspberry, good spice. No gimmicks, no smoke and mirrors, nothing trendy - just good, clean winemaking. Good price/quality ratio, too.
One of my favorite classic zin producers for many years now. Cherry, raspberry, good spice. No gimmicks, no smoke and mirrors, nothing trendy - just good, clean winemaking. Good price/quality ratio, too.
Feb 7th, 2015
Mountain fruit elegance! Courtesy of Mike.
Mountain fruit elegance! Courtesy of Mike.
Nov 25th, 2016
Black cherry and raspberry with moderate spice
Black cherry and raspberry with moderate spice
Jan 10th, 2021Fruit forward - notes of cherry with a dry tannin finish. Chiles Canyon Zin!
Fruit forward - notes of cherry with a dry tannin finish. Chiles Canyon Zin!
May 7th, 2018