Munselle Vineyards
2010 Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Zinfandel •Osborn Ranch
California: Alexander Valley
Mission Briefing
Going for Gold
Today’s Munselle Vineyards 2010 Alexander Valley Zinfandel is a fantastically delicious and well rounded Zinfandel. After all was said and done, our most recent tasting panel simply could not get enough of this gem!
An absolutely perfect combination of plush red fruit and elegant structure, this Zin hit all the right notes with our panel. Of particular note was the finish, which had a pleasantly surprising touch of subtle smokiness that lingers on the tip of the tongue. That little touch took this wine from delicious to another level entirely. And, dear Operative, if you pair this wine with food, holy cow, you are in for a treat!
This Gold Medal winner is available today only for an astounding $19.99. We strongly recommend you stock up!
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Deep crimson through and through, nearly opaque at the center of the glass, transitioning into a lighter red at the very edge. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Aromatic, with big, bold red fruit notes paired with sweet plum, fresh berry bramble, nutmeg, black peppercorn, and a touch of sage and rosemary. |
| Taste: | Plush and savory on the palate, with deep notes of fresh blackberry and raspberry laid overtop hints of plum, briar patch, sweet tobacco leaf, well oiled leather, black peppercorn, clove, and a subtle rosemary. |
| Finish: | Juicy and lush with just enough structure and grippy tannin to take this wine to another level, the finish is highlighted by a lovely touch of smoke that lingers on the tip of the tongue. |
| Pairing: | Homemade meatball sandwich on freshly baked sourdough, with melted provolone and tangy marinara sauce. |
What the Winery Says
Our family’s heritage of grape growing and winemaking in the Alexander Valley dates back to 1876. We’ve continued to grow wine grapes ever since. Now, four generations later, we close the circle with a return to winemaking under the Munselle Vineyards label. It is our sincere hope you will enjoy our wines as much as we have enjoyed producing them.
- Winemaker
- Bret Munselle
- Accolades
- Gold Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
- Appellation
- Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
- Fruit Variety
- 100% Zinfandel
- ABV
- 15.8%
About the Winery
More than 130 years ago, our family arrived in the Alexander Valley with a vision of producing fine wines from the rich soils the Valley has become known for. Shadrach Osborn was the proprietor of Alexander Valley’s first winery, Lone Pine Cellars, and Broder Frellson, the manager and winemaker for the second, simply called Red Winery.
As generations passed, our family stepped away from winemaking to focus their efforts toward cultivation of the land. Their industry varied from farming grapes to dairy cattle, prunes, orchards and, finally, back to grapes in 1972.
Now, five generations later, we’ve come full circle with a return to winemaking. For more than three decades we’ve produced premium grapes that have contributed to a multitude of award-winning and notable wines. With every grape and bottle we produce, we honor the vision of our ancestors, the heritage and hard work of our family.
Winemaker Tim Hardin
Tim’s vision and creativity are inspired by the vineyards, where he spends a large portion of his time during the growing season. Tim works closely with the vineyard crew to ensure only the highest quality grapes are collected and used. Tim’s work, however, does not end in the vineyard. His close attention to the handling of the grapes throughout the production process ensures consistently exceptional wines with a style reminiscent of modern European wines.
Tim leads the handcrafting of our wines, mixing old-world tradition and modern technology to allow for gentler handling of both fruit and wine. Tim’s winemaking philosophy is about pure varietal expression which produces award-winning, balanced wines rich in fruit and deep in character.