Winemaker's Grand Reserve
Zinfandel
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Winemaker's Grand Reserve Zinfandel |
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Rabbit Ridge Winemaker, Erich Russell, is proud to present this sophisticated, rich and complex Zinfandel. Contributing to the high quality of the grape and the wine is the low-yield vines which produce less than two tons per acre. The grapes are fermented and then have a long maceration with extensive skin to juice contact. The wine is then pressed into new French and American oak barrels, where it is aged for months. The result is a world-class wine with intense jam and berry flavors, luscious vanilla overtones and tremendous toasty oak. This is a deep, rich, extraceted Zinfandel with soft tannins. |
| 88 Rabbit Ridge Vineyards 1998 Sonoma County Winemaker's Grand Reserve $30 |
Very complete, with pretty a mix of ripe cherry, wild berry, anise and sage, turning to dried fruit flavors on
the finish and picking up herb and dusty berry notes. Drink now through 2007. 840 cases produced.
Wine Spectator 1/1/2001 |
| THREE PUFFS Rabbit Ridge Vineyards 1997 Sonoma County Winemaker's Grand Reserve $35 |
Rich oak and concentrated blackberry fruit are equal partners in this deep, beautifully crafted Zinfandel, and, while among the more extracted wines under review, this one comes with none of the toughness or excessively ragged edges that often follow with wines of this density. For all of its stuffing, it still shows a fine sense of energy and youthful vigor, and what is already good should only get better over the next three to five years. A fine performance.
Connoisseurs Guide January, 1999 |
| 91 Rabbit Ridge Vineyards 1997 Sonoma County Winemaker's Grand Reserve $35 |
A sophisticated style, elegant and complex, with a pretty array of toasty cedary oak overriding the concentrated core
of raspberry, blackberry, and wild berry. Neatly tapered on the finish. Drink now through 2004. 3,100 cases made.-J.L.
Wine Spectator 2/28/1999 |
| 91 Rabbit Ridge Vineyards 1997 Sonoma County Winemaker's Grand Reserve $35 |
Strikes a nice balance between spicy, creamy, vanilla-laced oak and a solid core of raspberry, wild berry
and cherry-scented Zinfandel flavors. This texture is smooth and polished, finishing with supple tannins and fine length.
Drink now through 2004. 804 cases made.
Wine Spectator 6/15/1998 |
| TWO PUFFS Rabbit Ridge Vineyards 1997 Sonoma County Winemaker's Grand Reserve $35 |
The biggest, boldest, most extravagantly filled of the three Rabbit Ridge bottling reviewed here, this deeply
fruited effort is simply brimming with blackberry in its nose, flavor and finish. Very ripe, but never out of bounds,
the wine is positively mouth coating with a sense of jammy sweetness from front to back, while lots of oak adds dimension
and richness. An intense and attention-grabbing Zin, this one should improve for up to five years and will need paring
with the richest port or tomato-laced braised-meat dishes.
Connoisseurs Guide October, 1997 |