BIG – Yes, this is a big wine, you know, big as in like “The Caboose”
Starry Night Winery began with a group of friends making wine in a basement for their own enjoyment, but has slowly grown into a medium sized winery focused on producing small lots of wine from vineyards all over the North Coast. This model allows them to seek out truly distinctive vineyards resulting in unique wines that show the diversity of Northern California’s wine regions. We are delighted to offer another Zinfandel from Starry Night. For those that purchased the 2006 Russian River Zinfandel last year, this one that shows how different Zinfandel can be depending on the climate in which it grows. Today’s wine is from the warmer 2007 vintage, and from Alexander Valley, which is warmer in general than the Russian River Valley. Both of these factors contribute to a wine that is richer and fuller, with exuberant fruit flavors.
The 2007 Starry Night “Caboose” Zinfandel, named for the actual caboose that sits in this hillside vineyard in the Alexander Valley appellation shows all the characteristics of a ripe, heady California Zin. Medium garnet in color, aromas of cherry, cassis, vanilla, blueberry and toffee leap from the glass. The palate is loaded with black pepper, cherry, blackberry, tobacco and cedar. This is an interesting wine because it is both ripe and lush, yet also rustic, with prominent tannins and a certain Old World charm about it. Just enough acidity serves to keep the relatively high alcohol in balance, resulting in a warm but pleasing finish. This wine would pair beautifully with difficult to pair dishes that are somewhere in between rich and light, like grilled chicken with barbecue sauce, or turkey smoked in a slow cooker. A perfect wine to have around during the summer when outdoor cooking makes wine pairing a challenge!
Composition: 100% Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Cooperage: Combination of American and French oak barrels
Harvest Date: September 3, 2007
Sugar at Harvest: 27.7º brix
pH: 3.85
TA: .504 g/100ml
Alcohol: 16.3%
Production: 210 cases
95 Points
Rich and full-bodied, packed with dark fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry. Notes of cocoa, cedar, and warm spice add complexity, while firm tannins and a touch of volcanic minerality reflect the bold characteristics of Calistoga’s terroir. Full-bodied in texture, and remarkably velvety. The tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit.
92 Points
Deep floral notes (violets), blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Driven by the mountain's steep, cool-climate terroir, it balances rich notes of blackberry and pomegranate seamlessly intertwined with dark plum, cocoa dust, and roasted mocha, hints of roasted mocha and spice undertones add depth to its complex profile, culminating in a bold, yet elegant finish.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
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