2005 Z Cuvée, Estate Bottled
Santa Ynez Valley
Growing Season and Harvest
After a very wet winter, the 2005 season was very mild and dry. Our typical “June Gloom” persisted into July but it finally succumbed to the steady warmth of August and September. This gradual ripening allowed for greater flavor development at lower sugar levels than usual for a beautifully balanced wine.
Winemaking
This unique combination of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsaut is inspired by the Chateauneuf-de-Pape’s where they have been blending these wines together for centuries, creating wines that are greater than the sum of their parts. After hand harvesting, the grapes were gently de-stemmed, fermented and barrel aged separately for seven months, then combined and aged for an additional nine months in French oak barrels.
The Wine
Each grape adds its own nuance: Grenache adds rich raspberry flavors; Mourvèdre brings notes of blueberry; Syrah, flavors of blackberry and ripe tannins and a touch of Cinsaut’s dusty berry notes. These layers of flavor enable this wine to pair with a wide variety of foods from mushroom pizza to rosemary crusted leg of lamb. You can enjoy this wine now or cellar for the next five to seven years.
Others' Opinions
2005 Vintage "My favorite is the 2005 Z Cuvee, a blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. Medium dark ruby-colored with an elegant bouquet of sweet berry fruit, loamy soil, pepper, and garrigue, this medium-bodied, fruity effort is best consumed over the next 2-3 years." 87 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, June 30, 2008. "A funky, rustic red with high-toned flavors of fresh figs, this is balanced by pleasantly bitter tannins. For carnitas." 87 Points, Wine & Spirits Magazine, February 2008. Gold Medal - Dallas Morning News Wine Competition "Offers intriguing smoky meat and plum aromas, with zesty flavors of black cherry, mineral and spice. The tannins tighten up the finish. Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault." 84 Points, Wine Spectator, February 2008. 2004 Vintage "Full bodied with aromas and flavors of concentrated, rich, and ripe red and black cherry, raspberry, and plum; relatively high alcohol. Steak au poivre. October 2007, Sante Magazine. "2004 Z Cuvee is a sophisticated blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsaut with a peppery impression, complementing blueberry and raspberry aromas and flavors. Dusty berry notes and a firm structure have the wine begging to be paired with lamb, mushrooms, duck or grilled wild-caught salmon." Quarterly Review of Wine, Summer 2007. "A Chateauneuf-style blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsaut, coopered in some new French oak; this is a richly drinkable red wine. Soft and dry, it shows complex cherry, berry and spice flavors and an intricate structure, and will play beautifully against a grilled steak." 87 points Wine Enthusiast, July 2007 25 Best Wines for Summer -- Pair with Burgers, Sausages and Spicy Rubs and Sauces -- 2004 Zaca Mesa Z Cuvee ($18) "From one of the first wineries founded in California's Santa Ynez Valley, this Grenache-dominated blend (which also has percentages of Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsaut) starts off oaky and firmly structured until the lush raspberry-blackberry fruit kicks in." Food & Wine Magazine, June 2007. Gold Medal -- Hilton Head Wine Fest 2007
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pairing chart
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