Also tried this Zin last night w/ very low expectations:
1. CortiBros Zin ShenandoahVlly/AmadorCnty (Original Vines of the Upton Homestead now DowningVnyd; 14.2%) SantinoWines/Plymouth 1979: Med.dark color w/ some bricking; pretty classic Amador/blackberry/briary/Zin very spicy bit smokey/pungent light toasty/vanilla/oak very complex old-timey nose; bit tart slight brett/horsecollar/leathery fairly strong blackberry/Amador/briary/Zin quite spicy some dusty/OV/earthy light toasty/smokey/oak lovely complex oldZin/cedary flavor w/ light/astringent tannins; very long/lingering some blackberry/Zin/briary/Amador slight brett/leathery dusty/OV light toasty/pencilly/cedary/oak finsh w/ light/gentle/bit astringent tannins; this wine is still very much alive and speaks of the ShenandoahVlly but starting to fade a bit & dry out on the palate; this reminds me a lot oof the SutterHome Deaver Zin '68 I had in the early '80's, some of the CharlieMeyers Zins of the late '60's.
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This is, to my knowledge, the first vnyd-designate bttlg of DowningVnyd, now known as GrandPere. Not sure where the grapes went before. I understand that, like KenDeaver, JohnDowning was feeding his grapes to his pigs. Maybe some to home winemakers. I think LeeSobon may have taken these grapes for a few yrs as well.
This wine would have been made by MattSantino, afore ScottHarvey arrived on the scene. Matt died early in life and NancySantino brought in Scott as winemaker.
I was quite surprised how good this wine was..still a pleasure to drink, though on its downside. One more btl left.
Tom