2018 Rombauer Zinfandel ($42)
Koerner and Joan Rombauer established Rombauer Vineyards in 1980, and in 1984 they released their first California-style Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. One interesting note about the Rombauer family is that Koerner’s great aunt Irma Rombauer wrote the internationally renowned cookbook, The Joy of Cooking.
This Zinfandel is a blend of 93% Zinfandel and 7% Petite Sirah. The grapes were sourced from El Dorado (42%), Amador County (32%), Lake County (17%), Napa (6%), and Lodi (3%). They were hand-picked and sorted. The wine making process included a cold soak for color extraction followed by fermentation in tanks and finishing for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak (10% new American oak).
This 2018 Rombauer Zinfandel is deep ruby in color with aromas of black fruit and spices. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has rich, jammy dark fruit flavors of blackberry and boysenberry with notes of vanilla from the oak aging. It finishes smooth with just a hint of sweet flavors.
The 2018 Rombauer Zinfandel is a really nice wine that is widely available and affordable. A great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!
The opinions expressed are entirely my own.