Trattore Estate Wines 2009 Estate Zinfandel - Review

Trattore Estate Wines
2009 Estate Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley, CA

When Tim Bucher was a child, his father grazed cattle for their dairy farm in the Dry Creek Valley. After studying engineering at UC Davis and Stanford followed by 25 years in the television and high tech industries, Bucher returned to his roots to found Trattore. A fairly new player in the Dry Creek wine business, Trattore has already earned a reputation for its Viognier and Roussanne. But the winery also produces two Zinfandels, a Petite Sirah and both red and white blends. The 2009 Zinfandel is a fairly big wine with good acidity and fine-grain tannins. On the nose it offers classic black cherry and vanilla along with a hint of mocha and damp earth. Sweet black cherry continues on the palate along with blueberry, cocoa and an earthiness that runs all the way through to the lingering finish. At 15.1 per cent, the wine is a little high in alcohol for our taste, but the alcohol is more noticeable on the nose than in the mouth. Try it with barbecue ribs or chicken, char-grilled steaks or peppered duck breast with black cherry sauce.

Rating: 13.5/20
Price: $29

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For more information, visit www.trattorewines.com