Tasting Notes Archive

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"A field blend of 45-year-old head trained vines, this vineyard of Pinole and Yokayo gravelly loam is located in the Redwood Valley in Mendocino County. We used eight different barrel producers, (seven French oak and one American) during the aging process. All the barrels were Burgundy style in shape, which we feel adds a level of finesse and elegance to the Cuvée Isabel."  -Jeff Cohn

Tasting Notes

Once again the most elegant Zinfandel comes from the Rhodes Vineyard. A beautiful dark purple appearance that is followed by aromatics and flavors of spicy black cherry, boysenberry, cinnamon, fresh vanilla bean and subtle hints of lavender.

James Laube, Wine Spectator: 89 points

2002 Rhodes Vineyard Zinfandel Cuvée Isabel

www.winespectator.com

A delight just to smell. Loaded with exotic spicy mocha and vanilla-laced oak, with chocolate-covered espresso beans. Spicy wild berry and blackberry flavors fold in nicely, even tilting against the obvious wood flavors. Drink now through 2008.

California Grapevine: 92 points

2000 Rhodes Vineyard Zinfandel Cuvée Isabel

www.calgrapevine.com

Medium dark purplish ruby color; very attractive, forward, herbal, spicy, distinctly varietal, raspberry and black cherry fruit aroma with overtones of creamy oak; full body; big, intense, jammy, highly extracted, ripe raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors with overtones of creamy oak and tending towards a very rich, late harvest style; medium full to full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Shows a lot of oak though it is well integrated with the fruit. Very appealing to drink now. Very highly recommended.