Lava Cap

Reserve El Dorado Zinfandel

8.88 ratings
9.14 pro ratings
El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills, California, USA
Zinfandel
Lamb, Chicken, Turkey, White Rice, Pasta, Potato, Herbs, Mushrooms, Soft Cheese, Chili & Hot Spicy, Tomato-Based, Duck, Exotic Spices, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Pork, Baking Spices, Pungent Cheese, Beef, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
Tom Casagrande

Purchased at the winery. Had I looked at the ABV before buying (15.4), I might have applied my “no 15” rule. But I was a little tipsy and carefree by that point (it was the 4th winery). It’s actually quite nice. Despite the high alc, the wine it neither jammy nor hot. Nose is ripe, showcasing ripe red fruit notes, with a subtle waft of smoke and clean crushed rock. In the mouth it’s soft and quite nicely balanced. Nice intensity of flavor. Decent, soft acids, a dry feel, and a bit of soft tannin integrated nicely within it all. So this appears to be an exception to my rule.

Purchased at the winery. Had I looked at the ABV before buying (15.4), I might have applied my “no 15” rule. But I was a little tipsy and carefree by that point (it was the 4th winery). It’s actually quite nice. Despite the high alc, the wine it neither jammy nor hot. Nose is ripe, showcasing ripe red fruit notes, with a subtle waft of smoke and clean crushed rock. In the mouth it’s soft and quite nicely balanced. Nice intensity of flavor. Decent, soft acids, a dry feel, and a bit of soft tannin integrated nicely within it all. So this appears to be an exception to my rule.

Feb 20th, 2025
Ellen Clifford

Brought back from the SF Wine Competition. Notes of plum and cinnamon, hint of...gasoline? Strong burn from the high alcohol percentage. In a good way.

Brought back from the SF Wine Competition. Notes of plum and cinnamon, hint of...gasoline? Strong burn from the high alcohol percentage. In a good way.

Jul 5th, 2014
Crystal Jennings

Crystal had this 9 years ago

Crystal had this 9 years ago

Sep 24th, 2015
Jeffrey Bragman

President at WINEPSYCH

9.7

Jeffrey had this 11 years ago

Jeffrey had this 11 years ago

Aug 16th, 2014
Min Park

Min had this 8 years ago

Min had this 8 years ago

May 11th, 2017
Adam Baker

Adam had this 9 years ago

Adam had this 9 years ago

Jul 8th, 2016
Min Park

Min had this 11 years ago

Min had this 11 years ago

Nov 26th, 2013
Gary Rice

Gary had this 12 years ago

Gary had this 12 years ago

Jul 18th, 2013