Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. For this week, my Wine of the Week is the 2010 Campovida Zinfandel Chiarito Vineyard.
The Winery
Campovida is a family owned and operated certified organic farm and working vineyard located in Hopland, California in Mendocino County. It’s a unique place that offers deep connections with nature, wine tasting, a professional culinary kitchen, a 10-room retreat center. It’s a place where you can relax, enjoy and create your custom gatherings. The property is located on a site that was formerly the Fetzer Valley Oaks Food & Wine Center , a 51-acre property originally opened and founded by the Fetzer family.
The husband and wife team of Gary Breen and Anna Beuselinck are owners of Campovida. The couple purchased the property intending to make it their dream home. But it’s evolved into Campovida.
My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Campovida about a month ago. We were very impressed by the couple’s vision, the property, and the wines.
The winemaker is Sebastian Donoso. Sebastian, who was born in Chile, moved to the United States with his family when he was 14. He attended architectural school in Miami, Florida, but quickly realized that’s not what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He moved to California and graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in enology and began his career as a winemaker at Sarcina. He became winemaker for Campovida in 2012.
The winery produces a total of about 2,000 cases of wine annually.
The Wine
Fruit for this wine is sourced from the Chiarito Vineyard in near the small town of Talmage on the upper benchlands of the Russian River. The vineyard experiences moderately hot days and cold, clear night – ideal condition for Zinfandel.
The secret to this vineyard is that it is dry farmed and cross cultivated – very old fashioned – It encourages the roots to go deep into the ground instead of sideways. The wines from this vineyard tend to be very concentrated in flavor and very balanced in acidity – Sebastian Donoso Loraca
Given the fact that the Chiarito Vineyard is also planted to Southern Italian grape varieties (Nero D’Avola, and Negroamaro), and Petite Sirah, I wonder if this Zinfandel includes a bit of one or more of those grapes because it exhibit a bit of exoticness that’s makes it sexy!
15.9% alcohol | SRP – $36
My tasting notes follow:
Garnet color with intriguing, aromatic, and a tad hot red berry, bramble, spice, oak and a hint of floral aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, concentrated, fresh, and supple with baked cherry, raspberry, cranberry, spice, and a hint of chocolate flavors. Long finish.
Rating: A-: I was surprised when I was this was 15.9% alcohol. It doesn’t drink like it because of its wonderful acidity.
Pair with: I’d pair this with a rich pasta, like Pasta Bolognese, or a hearty stew such as Ethiopian Lamb Stew.
Sample provided for review
(A+) – 98-100/Extraordinary
(A) – 94-97/Outstanding
(A-) – 90-93/Excellent
(B+) – 86-89/Very good
(B) – 80-85/Good
(C) – 70-79/Bleh
(D) – 50-69/#Fail
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