Top 100 Wines - Sonoma Magazine 2018
Gold Medal - Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2018
Today we are featuring a NEW vintage from our old friend Michael Muscardini, who is making some of the finest wines coming out of Sonoma Valley these days. Founded in 2002, Muscardini Cellars has slowly grown their production and offerings, and we are pleased to offer their first Zinfandel from the Los Chamizal vineyard, a stunning site that sits above the town of Sonoma. The hills are so steep that the vineyards rows have to be terraced, resulting in each vine getting perfect exposure to the sunlight, which is key for ripening zinfandel evenly. The rocky soils force the roots to grow deep, and the resulting wines show a great deal of character.
VINEYARD
Los Chamizal Vineyards are located in the rocky hillside foothills above the city of Sonoma, in the Moon Mountain District of Sonoma Valley. The beautiful terraced vines were first planted in the 1970′s and are carved into steeply sloping hillsides reaching 800 ft. in elevation. The soils range from well drained sandy clay loam at lower elevations to thin fractured basalt soils at higher elevations. The vineyard has a modestly warm climate through the day, with the vines savoring cooler evening air that preserves slightly higher acidity levels in the grapes. The hills are so steep that the vineyards rows have to be terraced, resulting in each vine getting perfect exposure to the sunlight, which is key for ripening zinfandel evenly. The rocky soils force the roots to grow deep, and the resulting wines show a great deal of character. Los Chamizal is sustainably farmed, using permanent crop cover, compost and organic fertilizers to nurture the soil.
VINTAGE
After a whole berry crush, we cold soaked the fruit for three days, and then put it through twenty days of fermentation. 90% Zinfandel and 10% Petite Sirah
TASTING NOTES
The 2015 Muscardini Los Chamizal Zinfandel offers lofty aromas of wild berries, black fig, raw tobacco, fresh herbs, spice and cedar. On the palate, the deep flavors of ripe blackberry, huckleberry and boysenberry are lifted with notes of course black pepper, clove, and cardamom leading to a seductive lingering finish. Enjoy now or age in cellar for 5-7 years to develop further. You will be rewarded.
Pair with wild mushroom and truffle oil pizza, tomato mascarpone risotto, pork belly, grilled trip-tip, and dark chocolate truffle with sea salt.
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Vineyard: Los Chamizal Vineyard
Blend: 90% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah
Harvested: October 3, 2015
Bottled: July 18, 2018
Winemaker: Michael Muscardini
Alcohol: 14.9%
Cases Produced: 400
All Wines
Modern, Sexy & Full
Aromas of wild blackberries and blueberries interwoven with enchanting notes of fresh mint, lavender, roasted walnut, savory spices, and a captivating hint of dark chocolate drizzled with fine balsamic. Notes of plum, blueberry and cassis with hints of wild sage, licorice, black pepper, and an elegant touch of fine-grained oak.
98 Points, Best of Class
Super-Tuscan style blend offering aromas of ripe berries and black fruits, interwoven with hints of vanilla, caramel, raw tobacco, leather, clove, blood orange peel, and roasted walnuts. Rich and generous flavors of briary blackberry, dark cherry, ripe plum and cassis.
Plush & Velvety
Aromas of wild berries are interlaced with nuances of fresh lavender, dark chocolate truffle, baking spices, and cigar box, with generous flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and fresh currants are layered with hints of cocoa, cassis, allspice, and wild sage.