Maroon Wines
2009 Old Vine Reserve Zinfandel
Zinfandel
California: Napa Valley
Mission Briefing
My beautiful Maroon
Classic Old Vine character is the order of the day with today’s elegant, supple 2009 Maroon Wines Old Vine Napa Valley Zinfandel.
We have really loved every wine that we’ve featured from Maroon and today’s wine reinforces our love for Paul and his wonderful works of liquid art. Big and bold on the nose, this wine is austere, elegant and refined on the palate.
Ready to drink now, you may also wish to cellar a couple of bottles for the next few years.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Pretty crimson hues with a ruby heart and pink edging that catches the light when swirled. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Bold and lush on the nose, with a heady rush of black cherry, blackberry, chocolate covered blueberry, briar patch and black pepper. After the wine opens, it reveals subtle black flower petals and a hint of fresh soil. |
| Taste: | Initially, this wine tastes just like a fresh cherry pie and black current pie. Follow-on flavors include blackberry, bramble, tomato stem and a hint of dark dried tobacco. |
| Finish: | Stewed fruit and tobacco expand all across the palate before gradually tailing off. |
| Pairing: | Perfect with a bleu cheese burger with bacon and all the trimmings. |
What the Winery Says
PRODUCTION: 320 cases (50 cases of Magnums)
APPELLATION: 100% Napa Valley
BLEND: 100% Zinfandel
ANALYSIS: 14.5% Alcohol
The Wine
The vines are head trained and dry farmed. Low yields and bin fermentation produced a fruit forward, spicy, medium weight wine. Rich, distinct peppery blackberry and anise flavors combine with incredible balance. The wine was aged in Hungarian and American oak for 36 months.
The Story…
Planted in 1928, these Old Vine Zinfandel vines are recognized as some of the oldest in all of Napa. Its rich distinct peppery blackberry and anise flavors combined with incredible balance make these vines widely sought after.
Paul Maroon and winemaker Chris Corley had the pleasure to tour these vineyards back in 2009 and it was clear to them this plot of land was very special. Quiet turnover of California wine history happens all the time - so when old vineyards can be converted to more lucrative fare like Pinot Noir or Cabernet, the past is uprooted. Knowing this, the two jumped at the chance to craft wine from these scarce and celebrated vines.
The Bottom Line
Our 2009 Reserve ‘Old Vine” Zinfandel was harvested from vines planted in 1928, making them some of the oldest in all of Napa Valley!
About the Winery
Maroon Wines was founded by Paul Maroon in 2008. The focus of Maroon is usually on single varietal, single vineyard wines and their philosophy is to introduce as little winemaking manipulation as possible from the vineyard to the bottle.
Along with their “estate” vineyard, Maroon sources from a variety of premium vineyards in the valley and hand crafts a number of very small production wines from vineyard sources that may change from year to year. These wines are often only made available to their wine club and a select few others, like The Wine Spies.
The focus of Maroon is usually on single varietal, single vineyard wines. Winemaker Paul Maroon’s philosophy is to introduce as little winemaking manipulation as possible from the vineyard to the bottle.
Winemaker Paul Maroon
Paul Maroon became interested in winemaking over 40 years ago while as a young man helping his uncle make wine in Pennsylvania. After earning a college degree on the East Coast he came to California for his MBA. In the back of his mind he always knew that, for him, Napa Valley was the place to be.
Paul visited as often as possible throughout the years and finally, in 2000, looking to return to this agricultural roots, he realized his dream and relocated to the Napa Valley. He purchased property just north of the city of Napa and there he began his life as a vintner and has been growing grapes and making fine wines ever since.
For ten years Paul had a lucrative contract with Joseph Phelps to sell them the Cabernet Sauvignon from his Coombsville vineyard. These grapes were used in their Insignia blend. Before the contract ended, Paul made under two barrels of wine for himself and realized the quality of fruit his vineyard could achieve as a single varietal, single vineyard wine. As a result, his first commercial vintage of Maroon Wines came two years later in 2008.