...about which its fans often did boast
2013 Limerick Lane 1023 - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/7/2015)
The box arrived at UPS yesterday afternoon, and by the evening it was in my house and open. I decided to try the 1023, a blend of primarily Zinfandel and Syrah, with a touch of Grenache thrown in.
What I found was a big wine, bigger than I normally go for. My first reaction was essentially, "whoa, this is huge" but after that initial reaction I was able to see past the unaccustomed weight to the flavors and in fact balance of the wine. The rich berry fruit was accented with dusty earth and some herb nuances on the fringe. The Syrah came though both on the front end and the back, as some pepper and tar nuances added complexity to the Zinfandel exuberance. No heat intruded on the wine, so it was quite easy to drink, though I did stop after two glasses owing to the 14.7% alcohol. I'm looking forward to the rest of the bottle, and seeing how a little air transforms (or not) the wine.