I got a good one this time, and I'm overjoyed to say that I have 3 more bottles tucked away that only cost me $20 instead of the $25 that I paid in October '05 for this bottle. I suspect there are several more years of good drinking available here.
Beautiful! Light clear ruby color, like a good Chianti, not clearing at the rim, just light color, and a rich Zin nose. Just a taste of some tannin or wood in the background. September berries (the tag end of the berries here) with the feeling of a brown California hillside. But Lone Redwood Ranch isn't in the hills, it's just south of the Santa Rosa airport. I didn't notice the 15.3% alcohol at all.
I'm not completely certain, but I seem to remember that the block Rod used for these grapes was pulled up after this vintage or maybe the '02 vintage because production was waning.