Russian River Valley creates nice wine

Ottimino Zinfandel 2007 received 92 points from Wine Enthusiast in October in 2011.  This wine is high in alcohol (13.9%), in the manner of a ripe Zin.  This is a rich elegant wine and will make you want more.

 

Ottimino Estate Zinfandel pours a deep burgundy in the glass. The intoxicating nose is filled with aromas of plum, vanilla, oak, and black pepper. The wine is perfectly balanced and tastes of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, licorice, and vanilla. A spicy, long finish is prolonged with lingering notes of vanilla. This is a beautiful Zinfandel. Forget one more glass, I want to have another bottle!

Visit their website at www.otimino.com.  In Pennsylvania the bottle runs about $22 and a great price for a great wine.

Here is some more information I found researching the wine.


VINEYARD: Planted in 2001, the Ottimino vineyard is owned by Brad Alper, an airline pilot by trade, and now gentleman farmer. The vineyards were planted and then grafted with budwood sourced from Lytton Springs Vineyard, Von Weidlich Vineyard, and Rancho Bello Vineyard. At an altitude of 800’, this part of the Russian River Valley remains cool in contrast to Dry Creek Valley, yet receives more sun than lowland Green Valley. Thus producing fruit forward robust wines without the high alcohols that normally accompany zinfandels.

VINTAGE: In the nearly ideal 2007 vintage, bud break in the Ottimino Vineyard was a bit earlier than Rancho Bello and Von Weidlich Vineyards, and its youthful vigor supported both an extensive canopy and an abundance of fruit. Numerous passes were required to bring the vines into balance, and by late summer the final thinning for green and raisined fruit left full, evenly ripened clusters of loosely packed, deep purple berries.