2005 Four Vines Zinfandel "The Sophisticate"

Winery: Four Vines

Vintage: 2005

Wine Name/Vineyard: "The Sophisticate"

Wine Category: Zinfandel

Grape blend: 93% Zinfandel & 7% Petite Sirah

Region: Sonoma County

State or country: CA

Price: $24

Cases produced: 1,251

KWG Score: 90.5 (based on 4 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (97.99-94)

Review date: December 21, 2007

Wine Review: This wine has consistently been one of my favorite Zin’s from Four Vines. This might be their best effort yet. This dark purple wine opens with a potent black current bouquet. On the palate, this medium bodied wine enters the mouth smooth as silk and is quite elegant. This wine has awesome fruit forward black current and licorice like flavors. It is zesty and luscious. On the finish, the fruit explodes and offers hints of cocoa. It is dry and lingers for a while. This wine would match perfectly with a rack of barbeque ribs. I loved this big Zin and I am sure you will as well. Enjoy – Ken

Tasted in a Riedel "Zin" Wine Series Glass.

Winemaker Notes: Our 2005 Sonoma Zin is from the beautiful Somers Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley and the 85 Year old Old Crow Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The wine was kissed with a touch of Petite Sirah and aged in small French and American oak barrels for 14 months. The result is a well dressed, ruckus country brawler of surprising style and grace. Nicknamed "The Sophisticate" because it expresses the elegant side of Zinfandel, this wine has a sexy nose with velvet vanilla oak tones, followed by rich, spicy berry fruit and a hint of cedar. Big flavors, yet refined and stylish. The James Bond of Zinfandel…he will seduce you.

Organic status: not organic