2021 Bella Vista Zinfandel

Tasting Notes: 

You fancy yourself a risk taker, an explorer, a thrill-seeker. That's why you quietly slipped your empty wine glass into your purse. Listen: we know all about that. Take it back out and ask for a pour of Bella Vista Ranch Zin. This wine has "risk taker" and "explorer" at its core, dating back to the 1930s when it was settled by a family of risk-taking explorers. The vineyard runs along the Russiver River near Big Sulphur Creek. Can you taste the wet river rocks? The brown-spiced red berry and plum fruit? Feel the granular, sweet tannins? Yes, you can.

Appellation Notes: Bella Vista Ranch Vineyard, Alexander Valley AVA

This AVA was named after President Alexander Hamilton. Wait, what? Yeah—got ya! Alexander Hamilton wasn’t president! As far as we know, he has never visited California. Perhaps, that’s because California became a state in 1850, precisely 46 years after Vice President Aaron Burr shot him. We bet, however, that Lin Manuel Miranda, the genius actor, director, playwright, and creator of Hamilton: The Musical, has been to California. And we bet he’s been offered wine from Alexander Valley (as a funny “ha-ha” kind of thing). When you get the chance to do so yourself, you’ll inform Mr. Miranda that the Alexander Valley AVA was established in 1984, was named after Cyrus Alexander, another lucky duck who received a massive land grant from the Mexican government back in 1840, and that the region is known for its full-bodied, expressive Cabernet Sauvignons, often showcasing a balance of power and elegance—just like Miranda’s songwriting capabilities. That was a long sentence. “The valley's rolling hills and picturesque vineyards create a captivating landscape, further enhancing the allure of this renowned wine region,” writes ChatGPT, as a nice, boring way to sum up the Alexander Valley.