Tried these two over the last few days:
1. Radio-Coteau Zin vonWeidlichVnyd/RRV (15.2%; 272 cs; U/U) Sebastapol 2007: Dark color w/ some bricking; rather pencilly/cedary/cigar box/old Zin/bit tired some dusty/OV some blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/spicy bit volatile/alcoholic light earthy some complex nose; some tart/tangy/bit metallic rather strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/spicy/ripe/bit chocolaty bit hot/alcoholic some cedary/cigar box/old Zin/bit tired/metallic some dusty/OV bit complex/old Zin flavor w/ light tangy/metallic tannins; very long/lingering tart/tangy/metallic strong ripe Zin/blackberry/boysenberry some dusty/OV some complex finish w/ light tangy tannins; still has plenty of spicy Zin fruit but the cigar box/cedary and metallic character suggests a wine that's past its prime.
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2. Chester'sAnvil Zin Mt.Veeder/NapaVlly (15.5%) 2007: Very dark color w/ little bricking; beautiful classic Mt.Veeder/spicy very strong blackberry/Zin/peppery some dusty/OV some cedary/cigar box/pencilly/oak/mature Zin rather complex quite fragrant nose; rather tart/tangy classic Mt.Veeder/spicy/peppery very strong blackberry/Zin some cedary/cigar box/oak fairly complex perfumed flavor w/ light tangy tannins; very long/lingering strong blackberry/Zin/MtVeder peppery some dusty/OV some cedary/pencilly complex finish w/ light tangy tannins; carries the alcohol very well & not at all overripe; probably at or slightly beyond its peak but a beautiful example of a fully mature Zin.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. vonWeidlich: This is the very old vnyd of Robert vonWeidlich (the "von" is self-annointed) that Ridge originally took their Occidental Zin from. They gave it up in the late '70's because it was so difficult to ripen the grapes. It's one of the coldest Zin vnyds in Calif...Pinot country. It was farmed for awhile by BradAlpert of Ottimino wnry. It is now farmed by EricSussman and he now labels it as LemorelLane Zin, after the road on which it is located.
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2. Chester'sAnvil: This may be the first edition of Chester'sAnvil, a L-M collaboration w/ AaronPotts. Named after ChesterBrandlin's anvil that dates from the late 1800's that Steve bargained from Chester for doing the cultivating of his vnyd one year. Steve polished it up & it is truly a piece of art if you've ever seen it. Carole is good with her bird pics...maybe we could get her to provide a pic of Chester's Anvil!! Carole??
The grapes for this Zin came from the small plot of old Zin that Chester kept after he sold the remainder of his vnyd to Cuvasion. PeterFranus also used to make Zin from Chester's vnyd, as well as Mourvedre I believe. Subsequent CA Zins came from MeadRanch I believe. This '07 still shows that distinctive Mt.Veeder peppery character that you get from Mt.Veeder.
Tom