🏷️ Lot Overview
Region: Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County)
Vintage: 2023
Blend: 95% Zinfandel/Primitivo, 5% Petite Sirah
ChatGPT Original Source Guess: [redacted per Cam’s request]
Wine Berserkers Guess: [redacted]
Alcohol: 15.5%
Oak Aging: 100% Neutral French Oak
Cam Price: $10.75 ($129/case)
Retail Estimate: $55
Drink Window: 2024–2034
🍷 Cameron’s Release Notes
While I was picking up a few barrels the other day, the custom crush facility GM mentioned he had another client looking to sell some wine. Turns out to be one of the most authentic and soulful Dry Creek Zinfandel’s I have ever run into. Might be the best, quite frankly.
Website / Tasting Notes
Zinfandel and Primitivo are essentially the same grape, both clonal selections having originated from the Croatian grape Crljenak. Today, most wineries in Sonoma County use the Zinfandel moniker while folks in the other region known for this variety, Puglia in Italy, use Primitivo.
Originally marketed under its originating label as a $55/bottle single-vineyard, Lot 44 is a spectacular example of what I have chosen (for marketing purposes) to designate as a Dry Creek Zinfandel.
However, what is so fascinating and compelling about this wine, is that it beautifully combines the more savory and chocolatey inclinations of Italian Primitivo with the rich brambly blackberry, raspberry framboise liqueur, and stewed plum notes of Dry Creek Zinfandel.
Needless to say, at $129/case delivered this is obviously another Back-Up-The-Truck opportunity… this will obviously make a great cellar defender drinking as well as it does now, but will also age another decade easily. Fantastic stuff!
At its most essential, this is a soulful wine that resonates with history and authenticity. It has tremendous depth and complexity while also being an immensely pleasurable imbibement. Zin-lovers will find this wine quite compelling, but Napa red fans will also enjoy the palate-staining structure and hedonic complexity, not to mention the varietal purity of a robust red wine raised in 100% neutral French oak barrels.
Deep purple/opaque core with an electric purple hue around the edges — fantastically extracted. It explodes out of the glass with ripe, brambly blackberry and chocolate-covered black cherry complexed with framboise liqueur, gobs of black pepper and tobacco leaf haloed with powdery rose petal florals. Warm on entry with wild berry jam and cocoa notes coating a palate-staining structure of black pepper and tobacco-laced tannins that unleash more waves of chocolate-covered black cherry, stewed plums, sandalwood, and tobacco leaf. Rich, ripe, complex, savory, and powerful — a true classic!
95% Zinfandel/Primitivo
5% Petite Sirah
100% Dry Creek single-vineyard
15.5% alc.
225 cases produced
🧠 ChatGPT says
🔍 Source Guess: [redacted per Cam’s request]
🎯 Rationale
(internal reasoning omitted for publication per Cam’s request)
⏳ Drink Window
Best Enjoyed: 2024–2030
Peak Drinking: 2025–2028 (when fruit, spice, and chocolate tones are in perfect balance)
Hold Potential: Up to ~2034 thanks to acidity (TA 6.27!) and structure