TN: 2009 Portteus Old Vine Zinfandel

2009 Portteus Old Vine Zinfandel - from the Rattlesnake Hills area of the Columbia Valley in Washington, this was deep red, had a delightful nose of blackberry and cocoa plus the slightly green notes you can get from America oak. Medium long and with slightly sweet fruit it was at a good place and quite enjoyable, showing little indication of the 17% alcohol.

[David M. Bueker]

17% alcohol…face meet floor!

[Jenise]

Happy to hear that one of Paul's wines went the distance like that. But yeah, 17%!

Yes, that is high enough that I was surprised that it wasn't port-like. They must have harvested at the end of a long dry spell!

Zillah WA is a pretty small place - today it has c. 3,000 people, less than when I visited. If I lived there I'd have a hard time not starting a church called God-zillah....

[Jenise]

Paul's operation is so interesting. I think he has about 80 acres but it's on a slope that gives him varying results and on which he has planted almost every vinifera available in North America. The range of wines he makes from one vineyard is staggering. About 15, IIRC. He makes the only convincing zinfandel I've tasted, especially in warmer vintages like '15 when I first discovered him. Wonder what he does with those grapes in the cool years?