Cougar's Leap Winery
2010 Black Rock Red Hills Zinfandel
Zinfandel •Black Rock Ranch
California: Lake County: Red Hills
Mission Briefing
Rolling in the Deep
You won’t find today’s wine at Cougar’s Leap Winery. They’ve sold out. That’s because Agent Red got his hands on every last case that he could!
Today’s wine is a fantastic wine for summertime grilling or finer dining. It is flexible, friendly, approachable and downright delicious.
Nils Venge, who earned a perfect 100 point score from Robert Parker for Nils’ Groth Cabernet Sauvignon, made today’s wine with the same enthusiasm that he brings to all of his winemaking projects. This Red Hills Zin is bursting with flavor, making it a great companion to a zesty meal. Enjoy with BBQ, pasta with red sauce or a garlic rubbed steak.
“Fresh oak greets the nose along with sour blue and black fruits that have a meaty edge to them. This is cool and firm on the palate with flavors of thoroughly ripe dark berry—almost curranty fruit—with blueberry accents and a nutty top note. The oak turns a touch smoky on the moderately long finish, which has blueberry and tart cranberry notes.” - 90 points - Gregory Del Paz
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Deep burgundy hues, from the edges of the wine to the darker purple core. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Bold blackberry, plum, blueberry and black cherry meld with sweet spice, leather, fall leaves and a hint of graphite. |
| Taste: | Lush and juicy, with blackberry, black cherry, cassis and fig, infused with dark chocolate, spice, subtle cedar and vanilla. |
| Finish: | Extra long, with firm tannins leading to a grippy, mouthwatering conclusion. |
| Pairing: | Enjoy this bold wine with something equally bold. How about a steak Chimichurri? |
What the Winery Says
- Winemaker
- Nils Venge
- Appellation
- Red Hills Estate, Lake County
- Elevation
- 2300 feet
- Blend
- 90% Zinfandel
- ~
- 10% Petite Sirah
- Harvested
- October 7, 2010
- Barrels
- 50% new American Oak
- Abv
- 14.5%
- Acidity
- .60 g/100ml
- pH
- 4.02
- TA
- 5.8 g/L
- Average Sugar
- 29.2 BRIX
- Aging
- 18 months
- Bottled
- June 11, 2012
- Released
- Sept 1, 2013
- Production
- 507 cases