91 Points - Wine Spectator
A delicious blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah & Carignane that builds rich flavor and texture making it a perfect companion for grilled meats and savory meals.
VARIETALS
The Comet is a blend of three varietals that complement each other beautifully: Zinfandel, Carignane, and Petite Sirah. Together, they make a rich, complex, full-bodied wine with a tremendous depth of flavor. The Petite Sirah comes from the Todd Brothers Ranch, a steep, red-rock vineyard in the Alexander Valley, where the vines struggle to produce a small quantity of grapes resulting in great intensity and structure. The old-vine Carignane comes from 130+ year old vines from the historic Evangelho Vineyard in Contra Costa. Finally, the Zinfandel comes from 100 year old vines, the Louvau Family Vineyard, one of their favorites in the Dry Creek Valley.
WINEMAKING
The ripening weather before harvest was relatively moderate, resulting in very balanced and fruit-forward flavors in the grapes. The vineyards produced relatively small yields, resulting in dark, highly flavored wines. Varietals were fermented separately, using the native yeasts, and aged the wine for 14 months in French oak barrels. At blending, 25% of Petite Sirah was used to maximize richness and added 7% of Carignane as a "spice rack" wine for bright fruit and complexity. The resulting wine absolutely shines with its rich texture and depth of flavor.
Vintage: 2019
Varietals: 68% Zinfandel, 25% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Time in oak: 14 months in French and Hungarian oak
Alcohol: 14.5%
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
94 Points
Juice explodes right out of the glass with its dark purple in color and bursting aromas of black cherry jam, boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry interlaced with hints of baking spice, espresso bean, and toasted nut. The palate is ripe and juicy with flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry and raspberry perfectly integrated with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and a kiss of toasty oak.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
PDF