2006 Dashe Dry Creek Zinfandel

One star from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "There is plenty to like in the deep and outgoing aromas of this sturdy and keenly defined youngster, yet once in the mouth, it is a bit crude and rough at the edges. Happily, its sins are those of youth rather than any fruity shortfall, and we expect that a few years in the cellar will temper its toughness and make for a more approachable wine." (May 2008) Dashe Cellars ferments their wines in special, custom-made gridded tanks. The stainless steel grids can be raised or lowered on top of the crushed grapes, submerging the cap beneath the surface of the wine, extracting color, body and complexity without too much drying tannins from the grape seeds. The resulting wines, like this 2006 Dry Creek Zinfandel are intense and complex, but round and fruit-forward without harsh tannins. Aromas of cherries and raspberries highlighted by violets, chocolate and baking spices lead to a palate with concentrated black raspberry and cherry fruit, blackcurrants, chocolate and spice. The texture is velvety smooth, with a sweet raspberry finish touched by chocolate and spice.