A provocative as well as prodigious effort is the opaque purple-colored 1999 Zinfandel Black-Sears Vineyard (640 cases, 16% alcohol). Produced from an 81-year old vineyard inhabited by mountain lions, bobcats, and wild pigs, the grapes for this cuvee were harvested in November, 1999. It boasts a gorgeously pure bouquet of blackberries, raspberries, flowers, and licorice, a remarkably full-bodied, viscous texture, fabulous fruit purity, and a ripe, layered, extravagantly rich finish. This whopper of a Zinfandel is unbelievably well-balanced. It should drink well for a decade, but who can wait that long? Tel. (707) 963-0940

A provocative as well as prodigious effort is the opaque purple-colored 1999 Zinfandel Black-Sears Vineyard (640 cases, 16% alcohol). Produced from an 81-year old vineyard inhabited by mountain lions, bobcats, and wild pigs, the grapes for this cuvee were harvested in November, 1999. It boasts a gorgeously pure bouquet of blackberries, raspberries, flowers, and licorice, a remarkably full-bodied, viscous texture, fabulous fruit purity, and a ripe, layered, extravagantly rich finish. This whopper of a Zinfandel is unbelievably well-balanced. It should drink well for a decade, but who can wait that long? Tel. (707) 963-0940

Not very successful is the 1998 Zinfandel Black-Sears. As Larry Turley acknowledged, their hottest terroirs often did the best in the cool 1998 growing season. A dense garnet/ruby color is followed by scents of raspberries, underbrush, loamy soil, plum liqueur, and pepper. Spicy and ripe, but less expressive and thick compared to previous vintages, it is an excellent Zinfandel for consuming over the next 4-5 years. For statisticians, the alcohol level is 16%, so there is no obvious lack of ripeness, even from this cool, high altitude vineyard. Tel. (707) 963-0940

Not very successful is the 1998 Zinfandel Black-Sears. As Larry Turley acknowledged, their hottest terroirs often did the best in the cool 1998 growing season. A dense garnet/ruby color is followed by scents of raspberries, underbrush, loamy soil, plum liqueur, and pepper. Spicy and ripe, but less expressive and thick compared to previous vintages, it is an excellent Zinfandel for consuming over the next 4-5 years. For statisticians, the alcohol level is 16%, so there is no obvious lack of ripeness, even from this cool, high altitude vineyard. Tel. (707) 963-0940