Paradise, or Pretty Darned Close!

Today was one of those perfect Northern California winter days that make me so glad we moved here (almost 7 years ago!) The high temperature was near 70 degrees, the sky a clear, pure blue that makes me want to get my watercolors and capture it so I don't forget on the gloomier days, and the slight breeze brought hints of warming earth and the idea that spring is not far away. In case you are not from California, the climate varies tremendously from one region to another. Southern California is typically sunny and warmer than the rest of the state, San Francisco has a climate all its own, the Sierra Nevada is cold and prone to huge snowstorms and blizzards, the foothills can get snow as well, while the area where we live, Sacramento Valley, can be rainy, foggy, and chilly in the winter and hot and dry inthe summer.

So on this gorgeous day, around 4 PM, Bill and I decided it was wine o'clock and time to try one of the new wines we purchased from Lot 18. I am LOVING Lot 18, the prices are unbeatable, and we received our first wines in two or three days from the date ordered. Cannot wait to try more from Lot 18.

What we drank:
DeLoach Lake County Zinfandel, Nova Vineyard, 2007
For a young wine with 15% alcohol, this was remarkably elegant and refined, and for a zin, I was pleasantly surprised. Many California winemakers craft zins that are fruit and pepper bombs, to the point where they are overwhelming and good (in my opinion) only for making really nice marinara or pizza sauce. This is a notable wine for its restraint. The nose was big, fruity and spicy at first, transforming with time into an oakier scent. The front of the wine is a punch of black cherry, purple plum, and cinnamon that I loved. The middle palate brought in notes of oak and pepper and some big tannins, and the smooth, elegant finish was oaky and spicy with the tannins only lightly suggested, lingering nicely on my palate. We had a fun little cheese similar to a Swiss that went nicely, along with almond and raisin cheese crackers that really brought out the best in the wine. Bill said, "Mmmm, good...wine!" He'll drink pretty much anything.

I was surprised - typically I prefer zinfandels from the foothills (Amador County in particular) which yield a bigger, fruitier wine higher in alcohol (higher sugar in the grapes.) Also, DeLoach is based in Santa Rosa, which is in Sonoma County, and I think this is the first zinfandel I have had from that region that has left a distinct impression. I think I just found a new love. Tasting a new wine on this gorgeous California day is a memory that I will have forever. Go out and make some memories of your own!