Owing to it’s ancestral roots in the Primitivo’s of southern Italy, Zinfandel has always been near to my heart. The best versions have a good core of acidity, like their Italian cousins, that make them versatile enough to pair with a wide variety of food.
It’s been almost a year since I first became familiar with the Bianchi Family Winery. Let’s face it, when most people think of California, they’d likely name Napa, Sonoma, or Carneros before they get to Paso… Don’t let that fool you though. Paso can make some wonderful wine and often at great prices and this Zinfandel from Bianchi is no exception.
The Bianchi Family winery was founded in 1974 by Joe Bianchi and his son. A new state of the art winery and hospitality center were built in 2000 and Bianchi is leading the area with it’s Heritage Collection; wines grown from estate fruit directly adjacent to the winery.
The 2010 Heritage Zinfandel, like the 2009, is again a dead ringer for a Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. It’s dark crimson in the glass and the nose of the wine is unmistakably Zin. There’s crushed, briary wild berries with slight floral and eucalyptus overtones. On the palate, the robust berry fruit is ripe and jammy without being overdone. It’s spicy, with a classic dusty, powdery mouthfeel to the fruit that coats the palate. Finishes spicy with one final laser of that perfumey fruit. This is a great value. 90 points and only $15 before discount.
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| ~ Bianchi Heritage Zinfandel ~ |
Anchors Aweigh!
September 16, 2013
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