Even hard-to-impress members of the Healdsburg wine community agree this is a standout wine.  It’s deep (nearly black) purple in the glass with a huge nose of dark fruit, spice, a bit of smoke and great intensity on the palate.  The hint of smoke sticks around alongside very smooth tannins on the finish.

The Dutcher Crossing 2006 Maple Vineyard Zinfandel pairs brilliantly with a herb crusted rib roast or smoked pork loin.  The 2007 was just released and I received a couple bottles last week, so check back for first impressions.  I’m excited to crack that bottle (if you couldn’t tell).

The view from Dutcher Crossing's tasting room

Mazzocco’s winery and tasting room are perched near the Healdsburg municipal airport, right between the Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. It’s a picturesque spot, especially on a sunny fall morning. We stepped up to a lengthy tasting of vineyard-designate Zinfandels and a few of their reserve counterparts. All the wines we experienced were expertly crafted and unique, but a couple really stood out. One of these was the 2006 Warm Springs Ranch Zinfandel.

With a blend of 98% Zinfandel and 2% Petite Sirah, the Warm Springs is intensely dark in the glass with black currant, cherry and cedar on the nose. This is an incredibly smooth wine that’s not too fruit forward; tannins are refined and it finishes long with notable spice and smoke on the palate alongside dark fruit.

Only 450 cases of 2006 Warm Springs were produced, so I heartily recommend tracking some down (or better yet, visiting the winery). For food pairing, think roasted and grilled meats. This wine can hold its own and complement meals that might overwhelm other reds.