CRAY! Y’all cleaned us out of the Elyse Zin faster than a fresh drop of toilet paper at Costco! So we frantically called the winery, begging for more. All gone! they said. But… we have the 2015. Would that work? YES! Same killer single vineyard Zinfandel, same price, this time with a 91-point score.

Elyse is an absolute gem, a popular spot for those “in the know” and worth a visit if you are in town. It was founded by Ray Coursen, who headed up winemaking at Whitehall Lane before starting the winery which is named after his daughter. He worked closely with winemaker Mike Trotta to create truly compelling wines and was quoted as saying his winemaking goal is “…getting absolutely ‘stoned’ by something. Something that floors you, like a great meal, a classic piece of art, or a great glass of wine. It has nothing to do with the buzz. It’s not about the alcohol, but a mind-blowing experience.”

Floored, stoned, mesmerized - whatever you want to call it, he nailed it here. Fruit comes from Korte Ranch, just north of St. Helena, where dry-farmed, pre-prohibition (all vines are 70+ years old!!) vines crank out some impossibly concentrated and complex wines. This beautiful bottle shows off with EVERYTHING we want in a Zinfandel - rich, but not syrupy, ripe fruit. There’s lovely baking spices - clove, star anise - and wild Maine blueberry, blackberry pie, red vines licorice, and a small dose of vanilla from the 30% new American Oak. Brawny, muscular and smoooooth. A small amount (11%) of Petite Sirah, Carignan and Valdiguié help round out the complexity and give it some incredible depth.

Only downside, much less of this one to go around. So if you missed out this morning, or need a good sub-$20 bottle to round out your locker, get it before it disappears!

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

91 Points - Wine Spectator

“Shows some torque but remains balanced and precise, with deeply structured currant, black licorice and cracked pepper flavors that build toward big but resolved tannins.”