Williams Selyem – Feeney Vineyard Zinfandel 2008 (750ml)

Description

WINEMAKER COMMENTS

This Feeney Vineyard zinfandel shows the classic old vine zin characteristics we have all come to expect. The nose exhibits concentrated blackberry wild raspberry jam aromas, with hints of spice and toffee. In your mouth the rich and full tannins are only masked by the power of the berry fruits and balanced acidity that keeps those flavors lingering on and on in the finish. Concentrated and complex, this wine will drink very well now and mature nicely well into the future. —Winemaker Bob Cabral

THE VINEYARDS

The grapes for the Feeney Vineyard Zinfandel come from the old Piner Heights Vineyard in west Santa Rosa, California. These zinfandel vines are over 90 years old and yield less than two tons per acre.

HARVEST 2008

2008 provided very concentrated, flavorful and high quality wines that are vividly expressive of the vineyards in which they were grown, despite being a difficult year for growing. The combination of numerous springtime frosts and cold rains damaged our buds and clusters, thus resulting in a lighter than average year. During the summer, the vines encountered near-perfect fruit ripening weather characterized by warm and sunny days with exceptionally few heat spikes. Very warm August temperatures quickened ripening beginning a very early, fast and furious harvest. The decreased yields resulted in very concentrated and extremely high quality wines, with brilliant flavor and phenolic ripening. The wines of 2008 express their distinctive sites and qualities in a very intense and focused manner: this is truly a vintage for the cellars, with great ageing potential for years to come.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM & REVIEWS

92 points Int’l Wine Cellar

Opaque purple. Plum and dark berry aromas are complemented by smoky floral and spice qualities. Juicy and brisk, with complex, powerful flavors of boysenberry, cherry liqueur, licorice and cola. Finishes with substantial but harmonious tannins that fade into the lush dark fruit on the close. I’d be in no hurry to drink this. This is the last vintage for this wine as the vineyard with these ancient vines has been replanted to Pinot Noir. (ST)

90 points Wine Advocate

The 2008 Zinfandel Feeney Vineyard has a beautiful nose of black raspberries, blackberry, and spice. Dark ruby purple, with high acid but enough body and richness to back up the aggressive acidification, this is an outstanding Zinfandel that should be drunk over the next 4-years, before the baby fat falls away and the acids take over. (RP)

Wine Enthusiast

So rich and powerful in fruit. Blackberry and cherry jam, mocha, cola, tobacco, black pepper, anise, licorice, beef jerky, it’s all there, on steroids.

Wine Spectator

Briary and jammy, featuring bold black pepper and raspberry aromas and supple berry pie and licorice flavors, finishing with rustic tannins. (TF)