ATP Tasting 
1 June 2003 


2001 Coast Range Chardonnay - 14.7% alcohol - don't let the label fool you. All of the fruit is sourced from Monte Bello Ridge. There are lots from the Estate vineyards, which now include Jimsomare, as well as three small family-owned parcels on the ridge.

Light straw color - more mineral than fruit in the nose (which I enjoy) with a touch of flint - very pleasant flavors of pear with hints of peach and the mineral notes that are so prominent in the aromatics - it finishes with just a bit of heat. For $18, this represents a good value for those not enthralled with oak-laden Chardonnay.

2001 Carignane Buchignani Ranch 99% Carignane 1% Zinfandel 14.3% alcohol 46 barrels produced - pretty and dusty old vine character fruit in the nose - with a little time in the glass the dusty notes fade a bit, and riper and richer fruit aromas come forward - the sweet fruit follows on the palate, but is interrupted by mouth-coating tannins that, while smooth, are fairly substantial. Undoubtedly the wine will integrate with time, but this won't be an early drinker for me.

2000 Mazzoni Home Ranch - 47% Zinfandel 47% Carignane 6% Petite Sirah 14.6% alcohol 43 barrels produced - beautiful aromas of blackberry jam that are clean and generous (a bit reminiscent of some of the early Pagani Ranch Zins) - the flavors follow with added bright cherry highlights - the tannins are not obtrusive, but I would suggest a year or so of bottle age for it all to come together. One of the more impressive wines I have tasted from this property.

2000 Zinfandel Llewelyn - 81% Zinfandel 17%Cargnane 2% Petite Sirah 15.1% alcohol 47 barrels produced - this vineyard, located on Dutcher Creek Road, has an Alexander Valley designation.

Somewhat reticent nose with hints of ripe dusty purple plum peeking through - rather generous ripe plummy fruit in the mouth - the flavors are very bright and the wine is nicely structured. Again, as with most ATP wines, I prefer at least a year or two in bottle for them to settle down and integrate.

2001 Zinfandel Dusi Ranch - 100% Zinfandel 15.2% alcohol - aromatically not nearly as super-ripe and jammy as some of these bottlings have shown in the past - in fact, the nose is quite bright with hints of candy apple - brisk and lively in the mouth with a fairly early hit of tannin - atypical for a Dusi, those who are put off by the ultra or over-ripe characters that this wine sometimes exhibits may find this bottling to be far more enjoyable.

The first taste of the Dusi was from a bottle that had been open for 24 hours. This pour is from a freshly opened bottle.

Shows the same bright fruit in the nose with added notes of tar and black licorice - while the flavors are a bit deeper in this sample, the overall character and flavor profile is the same. I insist that this is not your "typical" Dusi, and that this may be the Dusi for Ridge fans who don't like Dusi.

2000 Syrah Lytton Estate - 99% Syrah 1% Viognier co-fermented 14.2% alcohol 42 barrels produced - this bottling contains lots from one of the three new blocks that coming into production. It is unlikely that there will enough Syrah for a national release, but ATP members will be delighted to know that there will be more Syrah to go around.

Lush and lovely Syrah fruit in the nose with beautiful perfume overtones - just gorgeous in the mouth and my palate was given two or three seconds to enjoy the flavors before the tannins introduced themselves.

It seems to me that the first two or three vintages of the Lytton Estate Syrah were fairly austere in their youth. Hopefully, this wine is shifting stylistically with more lush and accessible fruit in its youth.

2001 Zinfandel "Essence" Lytton Estate - 80% Zinfandel 20% Petite Sirah 13.2% alcohol 11% residual sugar 35 brix at harvest 7 barrels produced - dramatic super-ripe black plum jam with crushed blackberries in the nose - it makes me want to dab some on my moustache - mostly sugar and structure in the mouth right now, but the fruit is definitely there, just waiting for the proper moment to move out of the back seat and start driving this wine. As I told the tasting room staff: It's not from Dusi, but its goooooood. With the scant production, this will likely be winery only. 

califusa
Left Coast Correspondent
Gang of Pour

© Allan Bree June 2003