WTN: 2000 Ravenswood Monte Rosso Zin

Tonight, I got home late from work and threw together a quick supper of sopressata, salami and tapenade sandwiches on sourdough. Jean and our friend Chris had earlier opened a bottle of the title wine, which I had with supper:

2000 Ravenswood "Monte Rosso" Zinfandel (14.5% ABV, TA 7 g/L)
color: garnet at center, bricking at the rim
nose: red plums and pencil lead
palate: medium body, good balance, rich fruit

I've never been overwhelmed by the Zins made from this former Louis Martini vineyard, but this might be the best I've had yet. The acidity was enough to go well with my sandwich and the alcohol restrained enough to not stand out. Altogether tasty, if not profound, and certainly not likely to get any better from how it's drinking today.

Mark Lipton

[David M. Bueker]

Monte Rosso Zin was my first favorite wine. I used to buy it from whoever made it.

I had the Rosenblum version a year or so ago, and it was an alcoholic, oaky mess (or my tastes had totally changed...just as likely).

Thanks for the notes. I keep looking to open this and then pass since I have not been happy with the way Ravenswood's quality dropped in the late 90's. The 1995 Monte Rosso was a knockout, the 96 was good but not up to the 95. But I had been very disappointed in everything I have tried from them since and the only reason I have the 2000 Monte Rosso in the cellar is that it is the last bottle I have bought from what use to be a favorit winery and I just have had a hard time closing the book on them.

Thanks for the notes. I keep looking to open this and then pass since I have not been happy with the way Ravenswood's quality dropped in the late 90's. The 1995 Monte Rosso was a knockout, the 96 was good but not up to the 95. But I had been very disappointed in everything I have tried from them since and the only reason I have the 2000 Monte Rosso in the cellar is that it is the last bottle I have bought from what use to be a favorit winery and I just have had a hard time closing the book on them.

I'm pretty much in the same situation, Brian. This was quite likely the last bottle of Ravenswood in the cellar, and all indications are that I won't be buying replacements any time soon. So, perhaps this note should be considered a personal sayonara to Joel Peterson's wines.

Mark Lipton

Almost two years later and I finally got around to opening my last bottle. It really did not taste all that different than your notes. Still kicking and no reason to believe it would not hold the plateau for a few more years. I really enjoyed it and was surprised that it was not tired at this age. My biggest complaint is that I don't think I would have pegged it as Zinfandel if tasted blind.

Tonight, I got home late from work and threw together a quick supper of sopressata, salami and tapenade sandwiches on sourdough. Jean and our friend Chris had earlier opened a bottle of the title wine, which I had with supper:

You almost made a muffuletta.

Tonight, I got home late from work and threw together a quick supper of sopressata, salami and tapenade sandwiches on sourdough. Jean and our friend Chris had earlier opened a bottle of the title wine, which I had with supper:

You almost made a muffuletta.

I loves me a good muffuletta, Chef. Central Grocery in New Orleans is the reference point, to be sure. At home, though, I'm just tossing together whatever is on hand if it's a late work night.

Mark Lipton