2012 Michelle-Schlumberger Dry Creek Zinfandel

This was a very pleasant surprise, given the full octane nature of this wine (15.2% abv) and my general dislike of big zins!

This was, in contrast, one of the most "elegant" big zins I have tasted. Absolutely zero alcoholic burn. A smooth, polished almost plush character....a pinot style zinfandel!!??? Certainly, though, zin berry fruit, earthy notes, red cherry. Dangerously easy to slurp down.

NOT what I expected!

[Jenise]

I am laughing at the sp error of 'Michel' in your title--autocorrect helping out again?

Still can't figure out what's happening with this winery. You say it's still there and producing good stuff, but WTSO sells tons of Michel-Schlumberger wines and last week I saw an $8 screwtop merlot ostensibly from them (but not Napa in origin) at, of all places, a Grocery Outlet. The design on the label on it was what I remember but the label itself was a much, much cheaper version of it.

oops. I do know that! Not sure what I was doing, Jenise.

I can't answer that other question, though. They don't seem like a particularly high production winery.

The place itself is very, very elegant (Mondavi with a much better architect, table service in a fountain courtyard), with an on-staff chef and multiple posh events.


One impression I get is they don't keep their wine for a long period of time...hence maybe a willingness to dump it on the secondary market. I know I picked up a very lean right-up-my-alley style of Merlot and Malbec for a really good price ($19 a bottle) in an end-of-vintage sale.

The cheap labels...that is odd, too. The wines I have bought have very nicely done bottles and labels.

None of their wines are Napa origin, though. Almost all, even the Pinot Noir, comes from their Dry Creek estate. Unless they are also sourcing bulk juice somewhere and slapping a quick cheap label on it. Not a good brand management scheme, but then Beaulieu produces both high end classic cabs AND BV Coastal, so not unheard of.

I wonder if Tom Hill knows more? He knows EVERYTHING!

[Jenise]

That's how I remember it, Brian, very very classy, with of course wines to match that are more European than most. But I'm sure I remember that they had estate vineyards, that they spoke of having their own 'bench' effect which made the cabs so dusty. Anyway, I liked the wines a whole lot--they were the 'discovery' of the trip--everyone has one of those when they visit only rarely, it seems. And that cheap-ass merlot at Grocery Outlet definitely wasn't in the scheme.

I wonder if Tom Hill knows more? He knows EVERYTHING!

So sorry to let you down, Brian, on my omnipotence....but pretty much clueless. Though I have followed M-S
from the very start, I gave up on them yrs ago. Nothing that very much excited me. I was first attracted to them
because of the Slumberger/Alsace connection..but that connection never seemed to bring much to the table.
Tom

I wonder if Tom Hill knows more? He knows EVERYTHING!

So sorry to let you down, Brian, on my omnipotence....but pretty much clueless. Though I have followed M-S
from the very start, I gave up on them yrs ago. Nothing that very much excited me. I was first attracted to them
because of the Slumberger/Alsace connection..but that connection never seemed to bring much to the table.
As far as knowing "everything"...you must realize I'm a LosAlamos guy and cultured to just make stuff up.
I'm from Kansas. Think Wizard of Oz & the guy behind the green curtain.
Tom

[
So sorry to let you down, Brian, on my omnipotence....but pretty much clueless. Though I have followed M-S
from the very start, I gave up on them yrs ago. Nothing that very much excited me. I was first attracted to them
because of the Slumberger/Alsace connection..but that connection never seemed to bring much to the table.
Tom

No worries, Tom. I know you are much more into the Rhones and unique wines.