Ratings & Tasting Notes:

This is a recent release from a small Sonoma winery, and no professional critic score or CellarTracker rating specific to this bottling and vintage was found at the time this listing was created.

Cult Wines International Notes:

Amista began with a television commercial. In 1986 Michael and Vicky Farrow saw Ernest and Julio Gallo on screen and decided they wanted the winegrowing life; Mike, a chemist, bought half a ton of Cabernet and started making wine at home in Saratoga. A move to New Jersey followed, the barrel went with them, and they eventually found their way back to California and bought land on Dry Creek Road. The name means “friends” in Spanish, and the winery was built around the idea of bringing people together. Today it is best known as the only sparkling wine house on that stretch of road, alongside Rhône varieties and Zinfandel. Gene’s Block is not estate fruit but comes from the Saini family, neighbours less than a mile up the road, planted on a Dry Creek bench whose exposure and soils suit the variety exceptionally well. The wine is hand-picked, sorted in the vineyard, cold-soaked five days, fermented on skins for thirteen, and aged sixteen months in barrel.

2022 was a warm and unusually difficult year in Dry Creek. Winter and spring rainfall came in far below average, then frost and hail in April cut the crop further. What survived ripened fast under a hot summer and was picked early. The compensation for a small harvest is concentration, and the winery describes flavours heightened by the low yield. Expect a full, generous Zinfandel: dark berry and black cherry, black pepper spice, vanilla and sandalwood from the oak, drinking well now and over the next several years.

Bottle Size:

750 mL

Storage History:

Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.

Condition:

Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.

Outstanding condition.