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 2011 Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Les Enfants Terribles, Heart Arrow Ranch
The Winery
Dashe Cellars, founded by Michael and Ann Dashe in 1996, is an urban winery located near Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. Michael Dashe is the Winemaker, and Anne Dashe is the General Manager. Between the two, they have 40-plus years experience in the wine business, including experience at some big-time wineries such as Ridge Vineyards, Far Niente, Chappellet, Schramsberg Wine Cellars in California; Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château La Dominique in France,and Cloudy Bay in New Zealand. The winery produces about 10,000 cases annually.
The Wine
This is the other wine in Dashe Cellars Les Enfants Terribles (the “Wild Children”) series (click here to see my review of the Les Enfants Grenache), which are wines made more in the Old World Style – lower alcohol, minimal intervention, and minimal oak influence.
This wine is made with 100% Zinfandel sourced from biodynamic farms (yep cows, chicken, fruits and veggies..the whole nine) in Mendocino County. It was fermented on native yeasts, and aged in older French oak barrels, unfined and bottled with low SO2 levels.
My tasting notes follow:
Garnet color with earthy red fruits aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, fresh, silky smooth and balanced with cherry, raspberry, spice and mineral flavors. Medium+ finish
Rating: A-
This wine really shines at the table. I enjoyed it with Filipino Tapa (Bisteksilog – beef steak, fried rice and egg) and Filipino Barbecue Chicken with Java Rice. It was great with both dishes.
The Wine Geek Stuff:
- Alcohol: 13.5% alcohol.
- Closure: Cork.
- AVA: > California> Mendocino
- Varietal(s): 100% Zinfandel
- Cooperage: 5 months in 100% older French Oak 500 Liter barrels
- Retail: $24
- Cases produced: 225
- Ageability: Drink now, or hold for 5-7 years
Other Related Posts:
Wine purchased 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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