WTN: Once & Future Zin

Coincidentally, while Victor was invoking the Ravenswood slogan over on the thread I started a few days back about Ridge, we were opening our first bottle of the Zin from Joel Peterson's new venture: Once & Future Wines 2014 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel, "Bedrock Vineyard." 13.77% ABV. This isn't a wimpy wine, but it's also not huge: instead, it's a Zinfandel that leans in the direction of bright, lively, savory Italian reds. Clear, brilliant ruby, lighter than many Zins; starts out very high-toned (cranberry and rhubarb) though the flavor darkens with time in the glass, leaning toward brambly blackberry; a long, silken midpalate that eases gently toward the spice and vanilla notes of the (30%) new wood. The texture and balance of this are gorgeous, and it sustains interest all the way through the bottle. Delicious, and just the sort of Zinfandel I like to drink.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks. I have 3 but have not opened one yet. The Petite Sirah was really good when I tried it though.

I saw your PS note! In fact, it was a tossup between the PS and the Zin last night, so we went for the Zin for the sake of not duplicating your TN. (I also went for 3 of each.)

Coincidentally, while Victor was invoking the Ravenswood slogan over on the thread I started a few days back about Ridge, we were opening our first bottle of the Zin from Joel Peterson's new venture: Once & Future Wines 2014 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel, "Bedrock Vineyard." 13.77% ABV. This isn't a wimpy wine, but it's also not huge: instead, it's a Zinfandel that leans in the direction of bright, lively, savory Italian reds. Clear, brilliant ruby, lighter than many Zins; starts out very high-toned (cranberry and rhubarb) though the flavor darkens with time in the glass, leaning toward brambly blackberry; a long, silken midpalate that eases gently toward the spice and vanilla notes of the (30%) new wood. The texture and balance of this are gorgeous, and it sustains interest all the way through the bottle. Delicious, and just the sort of Zinfandel I like to drink.

Yup...pretty much my take on the wine, Patchen. Had lunch last week on the vnyd w/ Joel and he opened these two
(plus a bunch of others). I was quite taken by both of them. The PS had more juicy fruit than usual for that variety.
I was quite struck by the Zin because of its structure...a hallmark of Joel's wines. It reminded me some of his
Ravenswood OldHills...but w/ less oak. The dusty/OV character came thru loud & clear.
Tom

I never really explored the higher end of Ravenswood. When I started drinking wine, the "Vintner's Blend" Zin, which was still fairly new, was pretty much all I felt I could afford -- and compared to my & Andrea's usual mode of drinking at that point (sitting on the roof, drinking bottles of Henry Weinhard's) it was definitely a step up in class and sophistication. Then we moved on to other things.

One question for you, Tom, since you just saw Joel: do you happen to know if the Once & Future labels were also designed by David Goines, who did the Ravenswood logo?

I never really explored the higher end of Ravenswood. When I started drinking wine, the "Vintner's Blend" Zin, which was still fairly new, was pretty much all I felt I could afford -- and compared to my & Andrea's usual mode of drinking at that point (sitting on the roof, drinking bottles of Henry Weinhard's) it was definitely a step up in class and sophistication. Then we moved on to other things.

One question for you, Tom, since you just saw Joel: do you happen to know if the Once & Future labels were also designed by David Goines, who did the Ravenswood logo?

Yup.....DavidLanceGoines did the label. They certainly have the same feel as the Ravenswood label.
When Joel sold Ravenswood, I think there was a "no-compete" clause on his production of Zins...
but not quite sure.

Tom

I figured it must have been him! Thanks, Tom...