While many of the zinfandels we’ve been reviewing lately come from Lodi, California, that’s not the only place that’s producing great zin. This one from X Winery comes from the Nova Vineyard in Lake County, California. This is located just outside Kelseyville, California — which is a good bit north of Napa and Sonoma, and even further northwest of Lodi.
The zinfandel on this vineyard is organically grown and is California Certified Organically Farmed (CCOF). If you’re looking for wine produced with organically farmed grapes, this is an outstanding one to try. And to give it another notch in the environmentally friendly belt, the corks are certified as sustainable corks by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Rainforest Alliance.
We’ve reviewed a number of X Winery wines in the past and we’ve been consistently impressed with the quality of their products, and this is no exception.
The nose on this zinfandel isn’t too aggressive, but is quite interesting and enjoyable. The base layer of aroma is a plum and cherry fruit, with a splash of cola. Layered on top of that are spice and herb aromas, like allspice, vanilla, cedar and sage. The palate has plenty of ripe fruit flavors, with blackberry and cherry being the most pronounced. It’s not a super spicy zinfandel, but there is some spice — particularly on the finish. The acidity is great and the mouthfeel is nice. Overall, this is a nice, elegant and approachable zinfandel.
Wine: X Winery Lake County Nova Vineyard Zinfandel
Variety: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 88
Price: $19.99
Find X Winery Lake County Nova Vineyard Zinfandel with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.