Zinfandel 2007
Judges at last year’s California State Fair named Storrs Winery’s 2007 Central Coast Zinfandel Best Zinfandel of Region. This fabulous Zin was also awarded a gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition of 2010.
It goes without saying, then, that winemaker Stephen Storrs, with many years of experience now under his belt, is turning out some impressive wines. His 2008 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay also won Best Wine of Region, Best Chardonnay of Region, and a gold medal as well.
The grapes for this Zinfandel were grown in the coastal foothills of California’s Central Coast, where the maritime climate allows the grapes to slowly ripen. The end result is a luscious fruit-forward wine with dense aromas of blackberry and cherry.
Vanilla notes are also present – thanks to aging for a lengthy period in oak cooperage. This deep ruby beauty has a nose of ripe raspberry and olallieberry – with an undercurrent of black pepper accents. It’s available at most good grocery stores (around $20), at the Storrs tasting room in the Old Sash Mill, and at Vinocruz downtown Santa Cruz. But as Stephen Storrs says, his only regret is that he didn’t make enough of it.
Storrs Winery, Old Sash Mill, 303 Potrero St., Santa Cruz,458-5030. storrswinery.com. Open daily from noon to 5 p.m.
Wine Events
A Crush on Sea Odyssey A fundraiser for the O’Neill Sea Odyssey will be held at Vino Tabi Winery on Thursday, June 2 from 5-8 p.m. There will be no cover charge for this event, but a portion of all wine tasting, along with sales of glasses and bottles of wine, will help support the Sea Odyssey program. There will be appetizers and music, and the showing of the film In the Wake of Giants at 7 p.m.
Vino Tabi Winery, 334 Ingalls St., Santa Cruz. Info: Dan Haifley, 465-9390 or dh*****@on**************.org.
Chardonnay II Winemaker Sailing Jaunts Every Friday in the summer months, the Chardonnay sailing vessel takes you out on the briny from 6-8 p.m. with a different local winemaker. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres are served as you raise your glasses and watch the sunset. Cost: $49.50. Info: 423-1213 and chardonnay.com.
Correction: In my article in the May 12 issue on Coastview Vineyard’s Chardonnay 2008, I gave an incorrect e-mail address. Here is the correct one to contact winemaker Ian Brand: co************@gm***.com.
