2012 Bedrock Dolinsek Ranch Heritage Wine

The 2012 Dolinsek Ranch Heritage impresses for its depth and pure power. Black fruit, smoke, sage, tobacco and licorice jump from the glass. The flavors are more savory and than fruit-driven, while distinctly bright notes inform the sweet, perfumed finish. There is more than enough structure here to support a number of years in the cellar. This is another terrific showing from Bedrock. The Dolinsek is a Zinfnadel-based field blend from vines planted in 1910.

From a vineyard planted in 1910 on Goldridge soils, the 2012 Dolinsec Heritage is a blend of 70% Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouchet and a handful of other "mystery" varietals. Cropped at one ton of fruit per acre, and aged in 25% new oak, this is a bigger wine at 15.% alcohol. Wow! What a terrific wine. Generously perfumed with lots of black fruits, licorice, lavender and Provencal garrigue notes, this beauty offers a full-bodied texture along with a sexy, up-front, delicious style that begs for consumption now and over the next 4-5 years. Morgan Twain Peterson, the son of Ravenswood's Joel Peterson, has hit the wine scene with a bang, producing vibrant, personality-filled, delicious wines from extremely old vines and, in some cases, virtually unknown grapes, such as Aubun, Teredalgo, Trousseau Noir, Le Noir, Mission, Trousseau Gris, Grand Noir and Abouriou, as well as Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Carignan, Alicante Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo. Many of these sites are heritage terroirs from the ancient past which, until Peterson's arrival, were largely ignored or were co-mingled into some innocuous industrial blend. Bedrock's portfolio is filled with exciting wines. The 2012s reviewed herein will all be bottled and released by Fall, 2014. Tel. (707) 343-1478