WTN: Easton ShenandoahVlly Zin '98...(short/boring)

Tried this last night w/ bistecca rancheros:
1. Easton ShanandoahVlly/Calif Zin (EB; 15.1%; http://www.EastonWines.com) 1998: Dark color w/ slight bricking; rather pencilly/dusty/smokey/pungent/ozone/WW2Beacon some blackberry/briary/Zin dusty/old vines/spicy fairly complex nose; tart/smooth/polished bit tannic pencilly/cedary/spicy some blackberry/chocolaty/briary/Zin dusty/old vines structured complex flavor; long bit pencilly/cedary/complex rather dusty/old vines fairly briary/brambly/light blackberry/Zin rather spicy finish w/ light tannins; a fairly complex/mature Zin w/ lots of spicy/dusty/old vines character; balanced & structured and not classic ripe/ShenandoahVlly Zin; totally lovely Zin ready to drink.
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And a wee bit of the BloodyPulpit:
1. These are Bill's Estate Zin grapes, that formerly was the Baldinelli Zin of Kay & Ed Baldinelli and John ?? (vnyd manager). The old Baldinelli Zins were classic Amador/Shenandoah Zins. Even though the alcohol was 15.1%; there was no signs of fumey/alcoholic/hot nor overripe/raisened character in the wine. It reminded me more of Fiddletown Zins of Ridge or some of the Swan RussianRiver Zins than most of the AmadorCnty Zins. I guess I'm not supposed to like it because of the lack of Amador overripe teroir?? But it was a lovely totally mature Zin w/ great structure and balance and probably best right about now.
Tom

Nice notes Tom. We have an '02 that came in their Fall Sampler Case. Based on the above or other knowledge you may have, would you hold it four more years?

Thanks for the compliments. I was a fan of Swan Zin's (my Dad knew Joe Swan and bought the wines) and their ripeness, flavor, and balance. We only use French oak at the winery (for everything), but in 1998 the first year we took over the Baldinelli vineyard which was owned equally by Ed Baldinelli and John Miller. Ed worked as an engineer for Bechtel and lived in Oakland and John Miller farmed (sprayed/disked) the vineyards and lived on the property. John did most of the day to day winemaking and Ed was the winemaker. They closed in 1992. We took over the facility in 1994. We started leasing the vineyard in 1998. 1998 was a cool harvest as you remember. I think we harvest Zinfandel from this site on October 15th or so at 25˚ brix and I bought some barrels from Francois Freres cooperage in Oregon for this wine. 1/3 new wood. The Oregon oak is the same species as French oak unlike other American oak. Can't be cross cut, but it has to be split following the grain of the wood. I haven't bought those barrel since as I thought they were a bit aggressive and resiny when young. We now age this wine in 1/3 new Taransaud Foret Divers barrels at about $950 each new this year. I think they do a better job of enhancing the wine and integrating. BTW we are picking the Baldinelli - Estate Zinfandel vineyard today and tomorrow for the 2007 vintage and it looks great. Vines were planted in 1972.

We have about 8 cases of the 1998 left in our library and we are selling the wine in our tasting room for $40 a bottle if anyone is interested. Not on our price list but ask.

Nice notes Tom. We have an '02 that came in their Fall Sampler Case. Based on the above or other knowledge you may have, would you hold it four more years?

Carl,
Not had this wine myself, so can't speak directly...but...hey...I'm a LosAlamos guy...we speak w/ authority on any subject...even when we know nothing about said subject.
My guess is, speaking in generalities of Bill's wines, is that it'd be better with a couple yr's more age. But..just a guess.
Tom