Once & Future Wines
Napa Valley Zinfandel
Napa Valley, California, USA
Opened this last night so these are night 2 notes. So delicious. 90-year old vines. Nose has ripe, spicy blackberry fruit and surprisingly complex earthy notes of warm sandstone, sun-heated gravel, and terra cotta roof tiles. Also a garrigue-like note I normally associate with the southern Rhône. Soft but subtly structured in the mouth. Weighty but not hot or jammy. There’s quite a bit of fruit initially, but it gives way to lots of minerally, savory notes in the long finish. Lots of tannin but it’s totally integrated within the wine.
Opened this last night so these are night 2 notes. So delicious. 90-year old vines. Nose has ripe, spicy blackberry fruit and surprisingly complex earthy notes of warm sandstone, sun-heated gravel, and terra cotta roof tiles. Also a garrigue-like note I normally associate with the southern Rhône. Soft but subtly structured in the mouth. Weighty but not hot or jammy. There’s quite a bit of fruit initially, but it gives way to lots of minerally, savory notes in the long finish. Lots of tannin but it’s totally integrated within the wine.
Jan 5th, 2025Delectable does not have this wine. It’s the 2021 Once & Future Napa Valley Zinfandel. Since this is supposedly Joel Peterson’s “earlier” drinking Zin, I figured I’d pop it while it’s still wearing diapers. Gorgeous nose. So Zin. Gorgeously ripe and vibrant spicy blackberry. Warm gravel. A beam of vanilla. Soft and mouthfilling but nowhere near jammy. The fruit is ripe and bright. Goods acids, and there’s a saline earthiness there too. A moderate amount of soft tannin for structure will ensure this is even better in 2-3 years. Delicious, even at this young stage. 90 year old vines.
Delectable does not have this wine. It’s the 2021 Once & Future Napa Valley Zinfandel. Since this is supposedly Joel Peterson’s “earlier” drinking Zin, I figured I’d pop it while it’s still wearing diapers. Gorgeous nose. So Zin. Gorgeously ripe and vibrant spicy blackberry. Warm gravel. A beam of vanilla. Soft and mouthfilling but nowhere near jammy. The fruit is ripe and bright. Goods acids, and there’s a saline earthiness there too. A moderate amount of soft tannin for structure will ensure this is even better in 2-3 years. Delicious, even at this young stage. 90 year old vines.