Mission Codename Forgive me for I have Zinned
âOne of my favorite under-the-radar wineries for a number of years has been Dashe. The prices are reasonable, the quality high, and the wines filled with personality.â â Robert Parker
If the three bears were looking for a Zinfandel instead of porridge, theyâd pick this one. Not too sweet. Not too light. Not too hot. Itâs juuuuust right. Especially because itâs a hair over $20 a bottle thanks to a dramatic 40% off. On a 94 pointer mind you.
Dashe is an all-time favorite of ours, and a fairly under the radar winery despite the hype. For now, at least. The proprietors have an all-star background: Mike worked the legendary 1989 vintage as an intern at Château Lafite-Rothschild and did stints at Cloudy Bay, Schramsberg, and Far Niente, before settling in at Ridge Vineyards, where he worked side by side with the legendary Paul Draper, while Anne interned at Château La Dominique in Bordeaux and Chappellet Winery in Napa, before making brandy for Remy Martin. Since 1996, Dashe Cellars has adorned the finest wine lists around the world, at most of the top restaurants in the US, including The French Laundry, Chez Panisse, and Per Se.
Mike selects only the absolute best tasting barrels for this wine. It hits all the right notes without being too boisterous or sloppy. It doesnât plunge you into a dunk tank of over-extracted sweetness. Still, itâs very succulent and very juicy, with dried cherries and jammy red fruit, a hint of spice. The addition of 10% Petite Verdot gives it some backbone, and the stuffing to last for years to come. Truly terrifyingly easy to drink and youâll wonder what the heck happened when the bottle is empty moments after opening it.
There you have it. Grab a few - youâll thank us later.
94 Points â The Tasting Panel
âShimmering garnet color, spice and berry nose, smooth, lush and elegant with fine structure and plum, black raspberry and cherry fruit; considerable finesse and great aging potential, long and refined.â
91 Points â Wine Spectator
âPrecise, with a sinewy elegance that draws in bright cherry and cranberry flavors laced with notes of briar, dill and white pepper. Drink now through 2027.â
Tasting Profile
Tasting Profile
Look | A midnight blue rim gradually bleeds into a deeper crimson core with ruby swirls |
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Smell | Dried cherries and jammy red fruit, particularly raspberries and currants, and a hint of spice |
Taste | Very succulent and very juicy hits all the right notes without being too boisterous or sloppy |
Finish | The addition of 10% Petite Verdot gives it some backbone, and the stuffing to last for years to come |
Pairing | Truly terrifyingly easy to drink and youâll wonder what the heck happened when the bottle is empty moments after opening it |
What the Winery Says
2017 Dry Creek Valley Reserve Zinfandel
- Winemaker
- Michael Dashe
- Varietal
- 100% Zinfandel
- Vintage
- 2017
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Appellation
- Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
- Aging
- 15 months
- Barrels
- 20% new French oak