QPR ALERT!

At 25% off, today’s delicious single vineyard Zinfandel qualified for this special QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Alert. Look for these value alerts when a great quality wine is featured at a great price

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Mission Codename: To join the brimming river

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Operatives have been clamoring for a big, juicy and delicious Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, worthy of their exacting tastes. Send Agent Red to the DCV to secure an ample cache of the best Zinfandel he can find

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Alderbrook Winery

Wine Subject: 2005 Alderbrook Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel – Wind Machine

Winemaker: Bryan Parker

Winery 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 big, extracted flavors, are gaining in popularity with our Operatives. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report below.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep ruby red with a darkening heart, perfect clarity and concentrated color, right out to the pinkish edges of the wine. When swirled, this wine is speedy, with a core that keeps spinning long after you stop swirling. When it does stop, the wine leaves behind chubby, tightly-spaced legs that take a long to to emerge and a longer time to crawl down the edges of the glass

Smell – Deeply aromatic, with rich layers of jammy smoked blackberry, dark cherry, ripe raspberry, and fall leaves, integrated with soft spices and cigar box, followed by dark chocolate, toasty oak and a hint of wild mushroom

Feel – Voluptuous and smooth on entry, the the wine grows on the palate, developing and exciting medium-bodied feel. After a few moments the wine becomes softly grippy as ripe tannins take hold

Taste – Dark and juicy, with jammy mixed dark berries, cherry and soft strawberry. These are accompanied by flavors of dried fall leaves, bakers chocolate, soft spice, a gentle earthiness and soft minerals

Finish – This wine finishes long, smooth and softly dry with dark fruit and a dark minerality

Conclusion – We always enjoy a great Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels, but we absolutely love today’s bold but balanced example from our new friends at Alder Brook. A classic Dry Creek Zin, it delivers a darkly rich experience with plenty of concentrated fruit. The wine is in balance, as well, with a good acidity that makes it a great companion to your end of Summer BBQ’s or even a finer meal. This wine gets a hearty Wine Spies recommendation!

Mission Report:

Agent Red’s Private Journal :: Entry extract :: The appearance of Agent K

“Your table is ready, Sir. Right this way.”

It was my time off in what seemed like months. My workload was heavy and I was glad to have the evening free. I had just completed a series of back-to-back missions and it was time to relax.

I was at [REDACTED], a favorite haunt – from back when I actually had time for things like fine dining. I followed the Maître d’ through the kitchen, to the “Chef’s Table”, adjacent to the kitchen.

“We are very pleased to have you again, Sir. Your dining companion is already seated and waiting for you.”

My heart skipped a beat. My “dining companion”? I played it cool and said, “Very good.” After all, even though I had expected a calm night off, I can’t ever resist a good intrigue.

If I thought that my heart skipped a beat before, this time it nearly stopped completely. There, at my private table, was a stunningly beautiful brunette in an elegant evening dress.

“Close your mouth – and sit down,” she said calmly.

I sat, but don’t remember if I complied with the first part of her instruction.

She slid an envelope across the table. I blinked at it dumbly. It was from Wine Spies HQ, its burgundy color meant that it contained official orders, Priority Alpha 1.

“Well, are you going to open it,” she asked.

I reached for the envelope. Her hand snatched it away before I could grab it. A sly smile played across her lips.

She shook her head and made a “tsk-tsk” sound.

I was smitten.

“Honestly, I had expected more from the legendary Agent Red.”

I just stared at her dumbly.

She spoke. “Listen, I’ll cut to the quick. I’m Agent K. I’ve been assigned to active duty, Double O status. My clearance code is Gaussian.”

I snapped out of it. The code word served not only as proper validation, but it also signified that this beautiful lady-Agent was also my new Superior!

I blurted out, “How the….”

“The only thing that matters right now is that I have successfully infiltrated Alderbrook Winery. Where you failed to secure their 2005 Wind Machine Zinfandel, I have succeeded. The only thing that matters, right now, is that we review this wine for our Operatives. I’ll give you further orders post-mission.”

So, my quiet dinner had turned into, what, a demotion _and a mission? I was still unclear. For the rest of the evening I sat there, reviewing the wine (it was amazing) and wondering how this dazzling woman came to be my new superior. And, just how did she manage to infiltrate Alderbrook? I had tried for months to complete my mission to secure their 2005 Wind Machine single vineyard Zin. Somehow, she had done it with ease.

I’ll have to conduct my own covert investigation into this new, beguiling, Agent K….

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

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