2011 Bedrock Zinfandel Papera Ranch

Dark purple. Sexy aromas of blackberry liqueur, cherry-cola, potpourri and pipe tobacco. Broad, fleshy and sweet, offering palate-staining dark fruit preserve and violet pastille flavors and a touch of spicecake. Aeration brings up more floral character and a mocha note that carries through the sweet, gently tannic finish.

The 2011 Zinfandel Papera Ranch emerges from the glass with sweet dried cherries, mint, tobacco and spices. It is fascinating to taste the Papera next to the Saitone as the parcels are adjacent. The Papera has a slightly more dried out profile in its fruit and tons of spiciness, while the Saitone is more overtly floral, silky and vibrant. In 2011, the Papera is all about textural elegance, silkiness and finesse. This site was planted in 1934 almost exclusively to Zinfandel. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021. Morgan Peterson continues to put out a bevy of superb, site-driven wines, many of them focused on the old-vine, heritage sites he and a small cadre of fellow producers have brought back from the brink of extinction. When I taste the Bedrock wines, I often get the impression they will age very well, despite their considerable near-term appeal. Tel. (707) 364-8763