90 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Food Pairings
Roasted meats (turkey, pork, lamb, beef, and brisket), hearty dishes with tomato-based sauces, and spicy cuisine. Its fruity, peppery, and spicy notes complement sweet and savory dishes, including those with barbecue sauce and rich, creamy, or roasted vegetables.
Vineyard
Pocai Vineyard lies at the base of a gentle alluvial fan in the Calistoga AVA, framed by mountain ranges at the northernmost end of the Napa Valley. Well-drained gravelly soil, optimum sunlight, and hot summer days tempered by cool coastal breezes in the evening provide perfect ripening conditions for expressive Zinfandel. The Ballentine family draws on their 100-year heritage of farming this site, first planted by the maternal grandfather, Libero Pocai. Supple, pure, layered and bursting with energy, the spirited personality of the resulting wine is testament to the pedigree of the land.
Vintage
The 2019 growing season started with ample rains and welcome soil saturation. An uncharacteristically wet May kept vintners on their toes overseeing vigorous vine growth and a delayed bloom. A long Indian summer followed with mild temp-eratures, allowing the fruit to ripen at a slow, even pace. This enabled winegrowers to manage picking schedules for optimal ripeness and quality in the fruit. The resulting wines are exceptional and elegant.
Winemakers: Alison Frichtl Hollister and Megan Gunderson
Varietal: 100% Zinfandel
Appellation: Calistoga, Napa Valley
Vineyard: Pocai Vineyard
Barrel Aging: 14 Months in 25% New French Oak
Alcohol: 15.3%
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.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
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