Once & Future Wines
Oakley Road Vineyard Zinfandel
Contra Costa County, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
These are night 2 notes. On night 1, it was pretty unforthcoming and brooding. But one night 2 it showed much better. The nose is more open, which deep, pure blackberry fruit, baking spice, and stony gravel. On the palate, it’s concentrated and nicely structured. The tannins are there but are soft and buried in the waves of flavor. Very nice balance. This will age nicely over the next several years.
These are night 2 notes. On night 1, it was pretty unforthcoming and brooding. But one night 2 it showed much better. The nose is more open, which deep, pure blackberry fruit, baking spice, and stony gravel. On the palate, it’s concentrated and nicely structured. The tannins are there but are soft and buried in the waves of flavor. Very nice balance. This will age nicely over the next several years.
Feb 3rd, 2024
Okay so lots of confusion on the ID of this wine. I am drinking 2019 Oakley Road and it's not stellar considering it's coming from Joel Peterson. I am a Ravenswood fan, cut my teeth on Zin, and know these wines, and I can tell you... This is sub par. You could stop at the nose. New oak, wood, and more wood dominates. Some white pepper is begging to be allowed entrance. The palate is sour cherry, and wood. It's hot with razor sharp tannins. This wine is an over the top grandstand from a great winemaker. My advice, stop pandering to the mass effect Cali audience.
90 points
Okay so lots of confusion on the ID of this wine. I am drinking 2019 Oakley Road and it's not stellar considering it's coming from Joel Peterson. I am a Ravenswood fan, cut my teeth on Zin, and know these wines, and I can tell you... This is sub par. You could stop at the nose. New oak, wood, and more wood dominates. Some white pepper is begging to be allowed entrance. The palate is sour cherry, and wood. It's hot with razor sharp tannins. This wine is an over the top grandstand from a great winemaker. My advice, stop pandering to the mass effect Cali audience.
90 points
Popped and poured; served at cellar temp (55°F). Drank alongside the 2017 Teldeschi Vineyard. Both were excellent and yet quite different from one another, really expressing their unique terroir. Very primary right now, the Oakley Road was red fruited: think raspberries, pomegranate, and spices. An extremely pretty version of Zinfandel with sexy aromatics. Lighter in weight than the Teldeschi but just as serious. Long finish. I couldn’t help but wonder how this would evolve if I had another bottle to lay down. I just love how zippy it was.
Popped and poured; served at cellar temp (55°F). Drank alongside the 2017 Teldeschi Vineyard. Both were excellent and yet quite different from one another, really expressing their unique terroir. Very primary right now, the Oakley Road was red fruited: think raspberries, pomegranate, and spices. An extremely pretty version of Zinfandel with sexy aromatics. Lighter in weight than the Teldeschi but just as serious. Long finish. I couldn’t help but wonder how this would evolve if I had another bottle to lay down. I just love how zippy it was.
Jun 20th, 2019
Very good zin from one of the sandland contra costa vineyards. Red fruit profile.
Very good zin from one of the sandland contra costa vineyards. Red fruit profile.
Aug 24th, 2020
From Joel Peterson, this Contra Costa County Zin is dark and concentrated, packed with dark fruit and very round. For me, it is lacking in acidity so the flavor profile is a bit one dimensional and somewhat flabby. It presents a ton of sweet fruit on the front of the palate which overshadows the wine. Well grown and well made simply not my style.
From Joel Peterson, this Contra Costa County Zin is dark and concentrated, packed with dark fruit and very round. For me, it is lacking in acidity so the flavor profile is a bit one dimensional and somewhat flabby. It presents a ton of sweet fruit on the front of the palate which overshadows the wine. Well grown and well made simply not my style.
Feb 28th, 2022
