Speedy Creek
2011 Knights Valley Zinfandel
Zinfandel
California: Sonoma County: Knights Valley
Mission Briefing
Over the Speedy Limit
We were floored by this rare Primitivo clone of Zinfandel from Sonoma’s rural Knights Valley. Oozing with the ripe dusty berry charm of Zin with deeper notes of rock and hillside spices, Speedy Creek taps into something special on their gorgeous mountain vineyard which was planted by Robert Mondavi himself.
Ultra-luxury (and ultra-expensive) Peter Michael and Verite are usually the only wineries in Sonoma’s Knights Valley that wine drinkers instantly recognize. After all, this remote, mountainous AVA contains fewer than 10 wineries! So it’s no surprise that Speedy Creek Vineyard is largely unknown, but it quietly makes one of CA’s most exciting single vineyard Zins. Robert Mondavi planted the vineyard to the original Italian Primitivo clone of Zinfandel. He felt that the volcanic mountain dirt had the potential for Zin greatness. Thirty years later, it’s pretty clear that he was spot on. Speedy Creek Zinfandel is an undiscovered star of the highly-regarded Knights Valley.
“Aromas of dark berries, licorice, tobacco, spice and smoky cedar. The flavors are elegant with hefty layers of crushed raspberries, dark plum, wild strawberries, pomegranate, rustic spices, and roasted walnuts. As a result, the longer the wine develops in the glass, the richness of the flavors becomes more pronounced. Overall, it’s a magnificent offering of Zinfandel with true mountain character.” - 96 Points - Christopher Sawyer, Sommelier and Wine Critic
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Garnet red. Clear and bright. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Super fragrant with classic Zinfandel scents. Raspberry, dusty earth, clove, and licorice. |
| Taste: | Lots of raspberry and strawberry flavor that’s inflected with clove, white pepper, and a stony mineral edge. The fruit taste is front and center, but never gets ahead of the more complex earth and spice nuances layered within. Hard to resist. Delicious. |
| Finish: | Very smooth with a freshness and balance that keeps it from being cloying. And unlike many Zinfandels, the alcohol is well integrated and never burns. |
| Pairing: | Try this wine with Italian cuisine, including antipasto, pasta with red sauce, Osso Bucco (veal shanks), and rich stews; as well as juicy Angus burgers, lamb kabobs, pork tenderloin, and gourmet mac & cheese. ~ Because it opens up so nicely in the glass, it’s also a fantastic wine to serve with dark chocolate and berries while watching movies at home in the cooler months of winter. |
What the Winery Says
- Winemaker
- David Burton
- Vintage
- 2011
- Appellation
- Knights Valley, Sonoma County
- Varietal
- 100% Zinfandel “Primitivo Clone”
- Abv
- 14.9%
- Aging
- 18 months
- Barrels
- Neutral French oak