Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Seghesio Sonoma Zin in the top "100" Again

Seghesio Sonoma Zin in the "Top 100" Again!

2006 Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel $243.00/Case...Friends, this stuff is
FLYING!!!

It's difficult to believe that I'm saying this, but...Our last half
pallet of the incredible 2006 Seghesio Sonoma "Blue Cap" Zinfandel is
sitting in our store room. The national (and international, its
available in central and eastern Europe) demand for this remarkable
red depletes the annual production in a ridiculously short period of
time, and once it nails the "Big List" it dries up faster than a dew
drop on a red-hot skillet. I guess it's true, everybody loves a
winner.

Made the "Top 100" 3 out of the last 5 years!

The Wine Spectator's "Top 100 wines of 2007" has been posted "on line"
(11/19) and true to form the Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel made the cut at
# 91 out of 100. The Spectator editorial staff tastes over 12,000
wines on an annual basis giving (roughly) one-fifth of the entrants a
score of "90" or above. Only 20% of the 100 winners have a suggested
retail price of $20 or under, making the inclusion of the blue cap
even more significant. In addition, only two (count em', T-W-O, 2)
Zins made the list (the other being the 2004 Navarro Anderson Valley
which you can't buy unless you're on their mailing list (i.e.
"fogeddaboudit").

There are dozens of California Zinfandels sporting higher prices than
the Blue Cap yet many of them don't possess the chutzpah required to
occupy the same shelf space of this delicious quaffer which
consistently out-performs its modest tare.

How do they do it with such consistency?

Let's call it "The Seghesio Recipe". First, get to California in
1886, (The year Eduardo Seghesio set foot in Sonoma County... THAT'S
the Tough one) then take superb estate-owned vineyards in Dry Creek
and Alexander Valleys, a day-to-day "hands on" Matriarch (Rachel) add
flawless farming practices and a pinch of ridiculous attention to
detail (Pete), throw in "Familia" inspired operating practices which
instill pride in every employee from the vineyard workers to the lab
technician and tasting room, add a state-of-the-art winemaking
facility, a fourth generation winemaker (Ted) a dedicated and
energetic sales team (Ed) and (most importantly) an inherent and
absolutely unrivaled understanding of the peculiarities and components
of the Zinfandel grape. Put all the above in a blender set on
"perfection", whip until all the ingredients unite in a single-minded
consistency and bake for around 120 years at the same temperature
required for producing fully ripened Zinfandel grapes. That aughta'
do it.

Better yet, just buy a case of the drop-dead-delicious 2006 Sonoma
Zinfandel.

During every harvest approximately 35 individual lots of
single-vineyard Zinfandel grapes are brought into the winery (all of
which have been constantly tended and watched over by Ted
Seghesio...that's no lie). Each lot is tested for sugar content,
weight and other factors before the final selection is determined.
Only the finest of these are chosen for the Sonoma County bottling. A
small percentage of Petit Sirah is added to the final blend to add
color and depth.

"91"/RC...Strict adherence to these practices insure the consumer will
experience that unique Seghesio Dry Creek/AV taste profile of wild
blackberry, briary wild berry, cracked pepper and creamy
cassis/blueberry (which are) unique to the warm DC/AV appellations.
A tempered use of quality oak and aging time gives the Blue Cap its
sexy, silky and refined texture which (I think) is reminiscent of a
lighter bodied Crème de Cassis.

When the 2003 Blue Cap Sonoma was awarded its position in the "Top
100" listing ("90" points) there were only a few cases left in
inventory hence we suggested that those wanting to experience this
wine purchase the 2004 (which had just been released, "88" Wine
Spectator, "90" Connoisseur's Guide). When we offered the 2005 (May,
2007) the title of the alert was "Last call on Seghesio Blue Cap
Zin"...I wasn't kidding...although the wine had only been "out" for 5
months we were told by the winery to give the famed "last call"
announcement as the entire production was slip-sliding away.

Yikes! The 2006 has only recently been made available yet we have
ALREADY been told to shout the dreaded "Last call" on this delicious
vintage. It seems that my take ("best yet") has been the unanimous
decision of the retail wine world. Apparently the winery can't keep
the shipments going out in time to meet the demand and there are only
so many cases made...hence,

"LAST CALL FOR THE SEGHESIO 2006 BLUE CAP ZIN"-$243.00/CASE

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