We tasted last Wed at Pig+Fig some of the new releases from Bedrock and Once&Future:
1. Bedrock Zin LimerickLaneVnyd/RRV (Plntd: 1910; Farmed: JakeBilbro; www.BedrockWineCo.com; 14.5%) Sonoma 2019: Med.dark color; strong blackberry/Zin/quite spicy some dusty/OV some toasty/oak fairly straightforward RRV Zin lovely nose; some tart/tangy strong blackberry/Zin/spicy light toasty/oak flavor w/ modest brisk tannins; very long strong blackberry/Zin/spicy finish; an attractive fairly classic RRV Zin bit tangy side; probably the least of the Badrocks but still quite a delicious Zin. $42.00
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2. Bedrock Zin MonteRossoVnyd/SonomaVlly/SonomaCnty (Plntd: 1886; 14.5%) 2019: Med.dark color; very strong very spicy blackberry/Zin/more raspberry some SonomaVlly/peppery some toasty/oak lovely aromatic nose; very tart/tangy very spicy/raspberry/blackberry/Zin fairly dusty/OV some toasty/oak rather rugged/hard/structured flavor w/ modest hard/chewey tannins; very long/lingering very structured/hard very strong raspberry/blackberry/very spicy fairly dusty/OV finish w/ some hard tannins; pretty classic MR Zin w/ great structure, more raspberry fruit, very spicy & needing age; beautiful Zin. $55.00
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3. Bedrock PaperaRanch Heritage Block 6 RRV/SonomaCnty RW (Plntd: 1934; 14.5%) 2019: Very dark color; quite spicy classic RRV/blackberry/Zin/boysenberry/ripe some toasty/oak fairly dusty/OV bit complex nose; bit softer richer/lusher strong plummyblackberry/Zin/spicy/boysenberry rather rich/lush fairly dusty/OV some toasty/oak flavor w/ modest ripe tannins; very long/lingering ripe/plush/blackberry/boysenberry/ripe finish; most rich/lush & pretty classic expression of RRV Zin of the Bedrocks; lovely rich/lush Zin. $42.00
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4. Bedrock PaganiRanch Heritage SonomaVlly/SonomaCnty RW (Plntd: 1880's; Farmed: Dino Amantite; 14.5%) 2019: Very dark/near black color; very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin bit more rustic/sauvage bit Italianite/earthy some toasty/oak lovely perfumed nose; bit softer/riper some rustic/sauvage/earthy strong dusty/OV strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/rather spicy some toasty/oak bit complex flavor w/ some rustic tannins; very long/lingering some rustic/earthy/sauvage/Italianate very strong ripe/blackberry/boysenberry rather dusty/OV bit complex finish w/ ample rough tannins; pretty classic expression of Pagani Zin. $42.00
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5. Once&Future Zin Green&RedVnyd/NapaVlly (23 yr old vines; Pckd: 9/26/2019; 30% new Fr.oak; 350 cs; 15.0%; pH: 3.56, TA: 0.65; Grower: JayHeminwayFamily) 2019: Dark color; fairly bright very spicy/raspberry/blackberry/Zin very light toasty/oak slight earthy bit simpler lovely aromatic nose; some tart very bright raspberry/blackberry/Zin/rather spicy light toasty/oak quite structured bit simpler lovely flavor w/ modest brisk tannins; very long bright/spicy/raspberry/blackberry/Zin w/ modest brisk tannins; the simplest & least impressive of the O&F Zin but a very bright/brisk Zin & better than any G&R Zin I can recall tasting; quite a pretty Zin. $42.00
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6. Once&Future Zin DickersonVnyd/NapaVlly (100 yr old vines; Pckd: 9/17/2019; 40% new Fr.oak; 150 cs;
15.0%; pH: 3.61, TA: 0.61; Grower: Drew Hagan) 2019: Med.dark color; strong raspberry/blackberry/Zin/quite spicy light toasty/oak quite aromatic very pretty/fragrant nose; fairly tart/brisk very raspberry/bit floral/blackberry/Zin quite spicy bit dusty/OV light toasty/oak bit simpler flavor w/ modest brisk tannins; very long strong raspberry/blackberry/bit floral/perfumed finish w/ modest tannins; quite a pretty Zin w/ lots of bright/floral Zin fruit; no signs whatsoever of the eucalyptus that used to be the hallmark of Dickerson Zin; quite a pretty Zin. $42.00
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7. Once&Future Zin Frank's Block/TeldeschiVnyd/DryCreekVlly (115 yr old vines; Picked: 9/13/2019; 35% new Fr.oak brls; 15.0%; 428 cs; pH: 3.45, TA: 0.65 gm/100ml; Bttld: Nov 2020; Grower:
John & Caterina Teldeschi) 2019: Very dark/near black color; very spicy blackberry/Zin/boysenberry/ripe some toasty/oak rather dusty/OV some complex nose; fairly tart rather structured strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy fairly toasty/oak bit complex flavor w/ ample firm tannins; very long/lingering very strong blackberry/Zin/boysenberry/ripe fairly dusty/OV toasty/oak finish w/ firm tannins; quite spicy & fairly complex; reminds more of RRV w/ structure than DCV; reminds a lot of the old Swans of the early '70's; terrific/structured Zin. $42.00
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8. Once&Future PetiteSirah PalisadesVnyd/Calistoga/NapaVlly (46 yr old vines; Pckd: 9/24/2019; 30% new Fr.oak; 14.6%; 252 cs; pH: 3.5, TA: 0.65; Grower: FeleciaWoytak & StevenRasmussen) 2019: Black color; intense blackberry/PS/spicy/peppery/boysenberry/bit chocolaty/ripe fairly toasty/Fr.oak huge fruit lovely nose; soft very rich/lush spicy/chocolaty/ripe/blackberry/PS/peppery fairly toasty/oak fairly structured flavor w/ ample ripe tannins; very long/lingering soft huge PS fruit/blackberry/some peppery rather toasty/oak finish w/ ample ripe/soft tannins; loads of ripe PS fruit & toasty/oak; avoids the oafish/clumsey side of PS; rather structured for a Palisades PS; needs age. $55.00
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9. Bedrock BedrockVnyd Heritage SonomaVlly RW (Plntd: 1888; 14.5%) 2019: Very dark color; very strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy/some peppery light toasty/oak slight funky more plummy bit more floral/aromatic some complex fairly dusty/OV beautiful nose; lightly tart very strong blackberry/very spicy Zin/slight peppery rather dusty/OV some complex flavor w/ modest ripe tannins; very long/lingering finish; another classic SonomaVlly/Bedrock Zin; a bit softer & less structured but quite aromatic; beautiful Zin. $42.00
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10. Once&Future ZinBedrockVnyd/SonomaVlly/SonomaCnty (131 yr old vines; Pckd: 9/13/2019; 30% new Fr.oak;
14.9%; 275 cs; pH: 3.6, TA: 0.60; Grower: Morgan Twain-Peterson) 2019: Very dark color; almost identical strong/blackberry/Zin/very spicy/bit peppery more toasty/oak bit less perfumed bit more complex beautiful nose; very strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy/bit peppery rather structured strong toasty/oak flavor w/ ample ripe/bit harder tannins; also speaks of classic SonomaVlly/Bedrock Zin w/ more toasty/oak, more structure, bit less aromatics. $42.00
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11. Bedrock OldHillRanch Heritage SonomaVlly RW (Plntd: 1880's; Farmed: BucklinFamily; 14.5%) 2019: Dark color; intense blackberry/Zin/ripe/peppery/very spicy modest toasty/oak rather dusty/OV very aromatic classic SonomaVlly/peppery nose; fairly tart/classic SV/peppery/very spicy some complex rather dusty/OV flavor w/ ample/ripe tannins; a beautiful example of OldHill Zin. $48.00
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12. Once&Future Zin OldHillRanch/SonomaVlly/SonomaCnty (135 yr old vines; Pckd: 9/26/2019; 30% new Fr.oak; 15.0%; 302 cs; pH: 3.52, TA: 0.63; Grower: WillBucklin) 2019: Very dark color; beautiful OHVnyd/very spicy/blackberry/Zin bit less perfumed stronger toasty/oak quite complex classic SV/peppery nose; fairly tart more toasty/oak very spicy/blackberry more structured slightly less fruit quite complex flavor w/ ample ripe/hard tannins; a beautiful expression of OldHill Zin on a bit more rugged framework. $48.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This was a pretty spectacular lineup of Zins. All performed pretty close to my expectations. They all spoke of their vnyd origins.
Of the Bedrocks, the LimerickLane was probably the simplest & least spectacular. That said, it was an absolutely terrific Zin. The MonteRosso showed the typical hard/structured character you get from that vnyd and will probably be the longest ager. I think it's worth the additional tariff.
I liked the O&F Dickerson & Green&Red Zins as being a bit lighter & more perfumed/aromatic; more pretty & less structured & intense.
But both the Bedrock Vnyd Zins & the OldHill Zins were the stars of the show. The OldHills showed more dusty/OV more spicy more complex character a bit more SonomaVlly/peppery character. Whilst the BedrockVnyd Zins showed more forward fruit and were a bit softer/ripe on the palate.
Between the Bedrocks & the O&F, I slightly preferred the O&F as being a bit more complex & a bit more structured & showing a bit more oak.
That being said, it's not enough to argue about. Both producers and all their vnyds are about as good as you can find in Zin in Calif.
Tom