TASTING NOTES:
“An outstanding effort, this Zinfandel packs a Turley-esque punch (weighing in over 15% alcohol) and delivers all the rich, succulent flavors that we adore combined with juicy tannins to make this thriller a worthy contender for best new Zin of the year! The thrill-ride launches forth with aromas of wild raspberry, toffee and smoky oak. Elegant flavors of boysenberry liquor and ripe blackberry jam mingle with the melted dark cocoa, chocolate-covered raisins as well as an opulent, voluptuous, full-bodied, strikingly concentrated, pure silk finish. This wine has already benefited from a few years in the bottle so that it is a spectacular experience now and will continue to evolve gracefully over the next 2 – 3 years, peaking in 2009 in our estimate. I plan to add several of these special bottles to my personal cellar so hurry while your allocation lasts!” Hal Oates, Porthos.com

IDEAL FOOD PAIRINGS:
Grilled Lamb Chops (with a dark berry glaze!)
Dark chocolate cake (with blueberries on the side)
Smoked Cheddar Cheese (sounds weird but we promise it’s awesome!)

HISTORY:
Tofanelli vineyard Zinfandel gained national fame among Zin-fanatics as the source of one of Turley Wine Cellars most highly prized bottlings and, later, the core component of the famed Prisoner Zinfandel blend (last vintage Wine Spectator 93 points). Now, we’re thrilled to offer you a bottle of the rare “family” vineyard production from the estate vineyard that Vince Tofanelli and his family has been farming on a daily basis since 1929. The extremely limited production (under 600 cases annually) enables a focus on quality with a hands on approach that reaches from grapevine to bottle. The historical vineyard located at the top of the Napa Valley near the town of Calistoga now stands as one of the last examples of pre-World War II grape growing. The methods Tofanelli uses were once prevalent throughout the valley; no irrigation (not even a drip line to be seen), no trellis systems (our vines are free standing without wire support), and of course an organic philosophy (we never jumped on the 'bandwagon' of post-war pesticides). Given the reputation of the vines and the limited production of the winery, Tofanelli still offers fruit to other notable producers such as Turley Wine Cellars, Spottswoode Winery, Orin-Swift (a.k.a. the 'Prisoner') Cellars, Neyers Vineyards and Duckhorn Vineyards.

FUN FACTS: When we asked Vince Tofanelli what makes his Zin so special he commented: “As family winemaker, my job is to apply that knowledge of terroir to craft wines that represent our vineyard. The tangible and the intangible. Capturing as much natural complexity as possible, I’ve found that less is more; harvesting small amounts, crushing the fruit as little as possible, no yeast or malolactic innoculations, gentle pressing, limited racking etc etc. After 27 consecutive vintages as family winemaker I know the vines and I know the wines. My motto is world class wine without worldclass pretensions.” Has the motto been met? So far, so good! Tofanelli’s wines should be as appropriate served in your backyard as they are in the finest restaurants that pour them today: Bouchon, Little Nell at Aspen, Tribeca Grille, Emeril’s ...”