EXCLUSIVE ALERT!

Today’s wine is not available through the winery, Our friends at Peterson generously allowed us to scoop the exclusive! Get some while you can…

SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:

Today’s selection from Peterson Winery is a boastful and delicious Zinfandel worthy of your consideration

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Mission Codename: The Traditional

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Peterson Winery, in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, and secure a wine before its general release to the public

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Peterson Winery

Wine Subject: 2006 Zinfandel Tradizionale

Winemakers: Jamie Peterson

Backgrounder: Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley is a treasure trove of great wines. While The Wine Spies have been trying to keep Agent Red from acquiring too many wines from the region he persists. And we indulge him, for the wines he has returned with of late are, quite simply, remarkably great. Today’s wine Agent Red visited with Jamie Peterson, second generation winemaker and son of Fred Peterson, the founder and winegrower for the winery. Read about Agent Reds visit with Jamie, following his tasting notes and mission report below

Varietal Backgrounder: Zinfandel is related to the Italian Primitivo grape, tracing its origin to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kastelanski. Zinfandel is one of the most versatile varietals with the ability to make wines, both rich to fruity, dark to light, and dry to sweet. Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels, which are characterized by their balance and juiciness, are gaining in popularity with our Operatives.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – A deep violet in color, with an inky heart of black plum. When swirled, this wine shows a fast-settling surface and tightly spaced skinny legs that take a while to emerge before they streak down the glass

Smell – Bold and deeply aromatic, with dark mixed berries, black pepper, white pepper, black cherry, burnt oak and dark bakers chocolate

Feel – Ultra lush and softly round on entry, then medium-bodied on the mid where the wine reveals an escalating richness as ripe tannins settle in and the mouth is coated and the cheeks are dried – with a texture that makes you pucker your lips

Taste – Darkly rich and brightly delicious, with a perfect balance of both bright and usky flavors with jammy blackberry, raspberry, plum, blueberry, smoky strawberry and dark cherry, with a sweetwoods and a gorgeous spice that adds to the overall flavor and complexity of the wine. Spices include pepper and soft baking spices

Finish – This wine finishes smooth and ultra-long with balanced flavors of its fruit, spice and a touch of smoky earthiness

Conclusion – This is beautifully balanced Zinfandel that delivers a real sense of the place that is the Dry Creek Valley. A father-son endeavor, careful farming of great fruit combines with the tender care of son Jamie’s winemaking talents to bring you a wine that impresses with its balance, brightness, complexity and pure drinking pleasure. Darker and slightly more (softly) herbal in flavor than other California Zinfandel, this wine has been crafted in a traditional field-blended style from some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in the region. The result is a wine that is unique and delicious, with a feel that has kept us talking about the wine long after we wrung the last drops from the bottle!

Special note: The wine is best when decanted for 30 minutes or more. Drinking a little young, but ready for release and ready to drink now, we recommend that you hold a few bottles for 6 months or more. If you have the patience, you’ll be rewarded with more depth and even more character

Mission Report:

Learn how Agent Red first became aware of Peterson Winery, which is now a Wine Spies favorite in the Dry Creek Valley – in this mission recap:

Today’s wine was one of those happened upon discoveries. You know, the sort that you find almost by accident.

I was making a pickup at one of my dead-drops in the Dry Creek Valley. A local asset had left me samples to consider for a future mission. When I got to the spot, I found a small parcel, obviously not large enough to contain wine. I grabbed it and walked toward my car, all the while making certain that I was not being followed.

On opening the parcel, I found a hand-written note inside:

This location compromised. Proceed to [REDACTED] for the package.

I entered the coordinates into my GPS and made my way to the new drop. On arrival, I scanned the area. Not a person in sight. I proceeded on foot and retrieved the package. It was then that I noticed what appeared to be a a winery across the valley.

Sample bottles safely stowed, I decided to investigate.

“Peterson Winery” read the sign on the building. My pulse quickened. Peterson was a name that had come up a few times recently. I had meant to place them under proper surveillance, but had not had the time to schedule a mission. I got out of the car for a closer look.

I scanned the area, making note of all point of ingress and egress. A good spy should be able to make a quick getaway if needed.

“Are you here to taste some wines today?”

I spun around to see a young man, perhaps in his 20’s. I played along.

“Sure,” I said.

And so the tasting began. We tasted through the range of the wines, and when we got to the fabulous Shinbone, I made the decision – right then and there – to reveal myself and procure the wine for our Operatives.

“Listen,” I said. “I can get this on the calendar next week. Can you move that fast?”

The young man, who turned out to be Jamie Peterson, the winemaker and son of founder/owner Fred Peterson, quickly agreed to allow us access to the wine.

I left with samples, and flash forward two days to the present… Viola! This excellent and very exciting wine is available to you today, dear Operative. If you love big, expressive, juicy, delicious and robust wines, this one is certain to please.

Wine Spies Winery Check:

The location of the Peterson Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.