DRM Winery 2016 āOld Vineā Zinfandel arrived at noon Thursday about one half hour prior to Aliceās email. Sale starts in 12 hours. After 2419 miles and a 7 hour rest we were popping the cork.
There is very little Internet presence about this wine or winery, so I opened a bottle of 2019 Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel to compare, as many of you would know that wine/ winery for a stylistic reference.
The wines opened up in an hour and were unmistakably Zinfandel. The Bedrock is ruby red, aroma was raspberry and black cherry, had a bright attack, crisp fruits, medium body, medium acidity and comparatively grippy tannins.
The DRM shows some bricking, not as prominent aromas of raspberry and cherry, though seems to be getting some fleeting coffee/cocoa bouquet. The wine is balanced across the palate, medium body, medium acidity, comparatively more complex fruit and smoother tannins.
In a vertical tasting these could be different vintages of the same wine. The wine is suitable both as a cocktail and with food.
I have ratted about 5 times over the years, this is the highest quality wine I been asked to review. The Bedrock is $25 delivered and is a good value. The photo shows the bricking. Thanks again for the opportunity to rat.
@losthighwayz DRM. Old vs young. Side by side were very similar. The additional three years gives better balance, mouthfeel, complexity and the tannin edges have been smoothed. The Bedrock is 3 years younger. Theyāre both very good wines.
Hello Everyone, Lab Rat reporting for duty! I appolgize for the tardy report, I fell asleep before the offer went live and work has been hectic this morning!
This is a slightly long read, so TL;DR to the end for reasons why you should purchase this offer
I received an email Monday from Alice that we had a bottle of wine on the way! The shipment was redirected to a UPS pickup point for a hassle-free experience with the folks in brown Tuesday evening. Upon opening the package we found a bottle of 2016 DRM Winery Cabernet Sauvignon! The package was in great shape and the bottle was cool to the touch.
SWMBO and myself both enjoy dry red wines. We drink a wide variety including cabs, pinots, zins, etc. We generally steer away from overly extracted wines and prefer more traditional, āOld Worldā styles. For Cabernets and other Bordeaux varietals we typically like wines with at least 10 years of age on them, so were excited to see this bottle had a little bit of time in bottle to mature.
Reading the label we were excited to see the wine is low alcohol (13.5%) and is produced in a Bordeaux style. The vineyards are exciting as well!
The bottle made it to our home around 4pm and we opened it soon after. The cork is natural with no signs of creep, has a moderate stain from the wine, and no cork taint. Upon PnP the wine smells fantastic while pouring a small amount into a couple universal glasses.
The wine is clear, no signs of sediment, with a brilliant ruby color which starts to thin towards the edge of the glass with a slight amount of bricking.
The nose initially without swirling is earthy with red fruits and no noticeable alcohol or oak influence. My SO noticed a very slight herbal note but couldnāt distinguish it. First taste is very tight with lots of acidity, firm but smooth and very well integrated tannins, some vanilla and coriander, but not much fruit at this point. Initial impressions are the wine is very well made and high quality, well rounded but needs air.
Swirling the wine mutes the nose slightly, but otherwise it is still tight without a noticeable change to the palate. We decanted half the bottle and recorked the remaining half bottle under air for tasting the next day.
After 4 hours the wine is singing! The wine is very smooth and well-integrated at this point. Nose is dark chocolate and tons of cherries. The palate has tart cherries and strawberries, good acidity and noticeable tannins, but it is very smooth with a really nice, medium length finish. The wine is all red fruit at this point without any of the baking spice notes from before. I would expect more spice and graphite from a Bordeaux, so I think it is a stretch to directly compare this wine with that region, but it is a restrained wine and quite enjoyable. We are expecting a lot on the 2nd day!
24 hours after initial opening and the wine is very disappointing. There is noticeable alcohol on the nose and the smell and taste have both become quite astringent. Most of the flavor notes have faded and the wine is generally unpleasant to drink at this point.
To be honest, we cork Bordeaux varietals for consumption the next day and they generally improve. Last week we had a 2017 Pedroncelli Cab which was consumed over 3 days and continued to mellow and improve each day. What is confusing for me was how well the wine was showing after 4 and even 5 hours in a decanter but it fell flat on day 2.
So, TL;DR, we were very impressed with this cabernet. It is drinking well now, especially with a decant, but we would be hesitant to keep a bottle open for too long. With multiple bottles I would enjoy seeing how this wine improves with some age as I think it has the structure to go a little longer, but it could be near itās peak now. We both agreed anything under $30 Casemates price would be a great deal, and I would be happy paying $50 for this bottle from a local wine merchant.
Thank you Alice, David, and the team for sending us a bottle! Let me know if there are any questions!
@knlprez
The cab was great, the zin sounds good, I assume the Syrah will be as well. No room but I donāt think these will be around too long, so in for a case!
This magnificent 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a superb blend of three vineyards creating a quality wine with a bold, rich Bordeaux style. Layers of ripe currant and cherry engulf the palate, to prepare for a mighty and tannic finish. The 2016 DRM has a light cedar box and vanilla aromas. In the mouth, itās peppery with black cherries and cocoa on the palate with a lingering finish. This is a more reserved style of Napa cab and people who love Bordeaux will appreciate this wine. This inaugural Cabernet is plush and extremely soft to the finish.
Specs
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Barrel Aging: 36 months in Neutral French oak
Appellation: Napa Valley, California
Alcohol: 13.5%
2016 DRM Winery āOld Vineā Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
The fully spiced aroma acts as a pleasant introduction for this fruity Zinfandel, a true expression of 50-year-old grape vines, tucked away in the east hills of Napa Valley. A hint of black cherry and pomegranate lingers into a well-structured body that is followed by a subtle, elegant finale.
Specs
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Zinfandel
Barrel Aging: Neutral French oak
Appellation: Napa Valley, California
Alcohol: 14%
2016 DRM Winery Syrah, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Dark ruby-red in color, this Syrah is smooth upon entry and zesty on the finish, sourced from the eastern mountains of Napa Valley. Entwined with enjoyable aromas of strawberry jam and smoky oak, followed by a fine concentration of blackberry and raspberry flavors. Syrah made Bordeaux Style; experience a different style of Syrah
Specs
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Syrah
Barrel Aging: Neutral French oak
Appellation: Napa Valley, California
Alcohol: 14%
Whatās Included
3-bottles:
1x 2016 DRM Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1x 2016 DRM Winery āOld Vineā Zinfandel, Napa Valley
1x 2016 DRM Winery Syrah, Napa Valley
Case:
4x 2016 DRM Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
4x 2016 DRM Winery āOld Vineā Zinfandel, Napa Valley
With a legacy that developed Opus One into a world-renowned icon, winemaker Daniel Manies has ventured out on his own to develop his own signature label of elegant wines.
Utilizing his classically trained authentic French Bordeaux winemaking techniques, in combination with his unique and creative approach to winemaking, Daniel has developed wines with characteristics that will amaze and delight the most discerning of tastes. With his incomparable approach to quality, these premier wines will tantalize the senses and transport you to the vineyards of Bordeaux, France with every sip.
About the Winemaker
With ancestral roots originating in France, Daniel Maniesā forefathers made their way to America in 1874. From a long history of agriculture and French heritage, Daniel has come to know that winemaking is in his blood. As a very young boy, Danielās family settled in the Napa Valley in the early 1960s. Through a lifetime of hard work, Daniel has achieved many great goals. Beginning his career in the wine industry, earning his credentials on the stomping grounds of winery greats such as Beringer, Mondavi, and Christian Brothers, all while attending college courses, has positioned him as a valuable member of the power team that put Napa Valley on the map as the world-renowned wine region it is today.
Daniel Ray Manies (DRM) has an extraordinary winemaking resume. After 10 years working in the cellars at Robert Mondavi working alongside Tim Mondavi, in 1991 he became the first Master Cellarman for Opus One, hands-on at the start of the world-renowned iconic wine. A decade later, he took his skills to Bordeauxās world-famous Baron Philippe de Rothschild, one of Opus Oneās parent wineries, and further enriched his winemaking knowledge.
After his experience in Bordeaux, Daniel returned to Napa, first launching Chateau Manzanita Winery and finally DRM Winery, the culmination of 40 years of winemaking experience in two of the worldās premier wine regionsā Napa and Bordeaux. He has devoted his entire life to the pursuit of making great wines, and his passion and sincere love for the work eventually led him to follow his intuition and create his own signature wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
These wines seem really interesting. Though with three cases of āBlack Fridayā purchases having just been delivered and all my wine racks more than full, I donāt have room for a(nother) case. Anyone in the Bay Area (I am in SF) interested in a split?
@davidj94112 I live in Napa. Are you ever in Napa? I could order a case and split with you. I am never really down in the bay area much at all anymore. I donāt even have enough room for the half case but this looks too good to pass up.
@davidj94112 well well! If youāre serious in tempting me to add to my overflowing supply - consider me tempted. I am in SF proper and up for a 2-way or 3-way split
@alaflying@grn2k1civic Seems like a split between the two of you would be easier to execute, so feel free. While I do get up to Napa & Santa Rosa a fair amount, Iām not sure when Iāll be up there next.
@mic Iām down for a two-way split (a three way could mean weād have to vie for which bottles we want). If you want in, let me know and I can order (I have free shipping, so weāll save on that) and we can make arrangements for pickup when it arrives.
@winstoncharles i bought a case this morning. If you can drive to Milton i would split the case when it arrives. The cost for 6 is $123 which includes tax and shipping.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2016 DRM Winery Mixed Napa Valley Reds - $55 = 19.63%
Opened the 2016 Syrah. I knew there was going to be a problem when noticed the cork was drenched and leakage was evident. Tasted like paint thinner. Wondering if these were stored properly. Bummed and a bit upset at the same time.
@losthighwayz how were the other wines? Were other bottles of the Syrah disappointing? DRM is up again today, and Iām very tempted, but this would be a big purchase for me and Iām hesitant to risk it if there are quality concernsā¦
@dak52 good morning. It was an off bottle. Had another Syrah last week and cork and profile were ok.
That being said, imo the DRM wines are good not great. Iāve had all three and theyāre missing that ooomph factor if that makes sense. Theyāre well made and fairly balanced but lack complexity for the most part. I was hoping for a āstealā but not quite. Case price is good but not enough for me to pull the trigger again. I hope this helps!
@losthighwayz Will do! Hoping that for the money, they are at least a solid week-night sipper, but will share my thoughts once I get a chance to taste.
We have had one of the syrahs and thought it was off as well. It was better on day 2, but in a step down from something like a Wellington non-estate syrah.
The cab we ratted was very enjoyable, and I think we already drank all the zones, great weeknight slippers when you want to enjoy a bottle but not be analytical.
āOld Vineā Zinfandel
DRM Winery 2016 āOld Vineā Zinfandel arrived at noon Thursday about one half hour prior to Aliceās email. Sale starts in 12 hours. After 2419 miles and a 7 hour rest we were popping the cork.
There is very little Internet presence about this wine or winery, so I opened a bottle of 2019 Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel to compare, as many of you would know that wine/ winery for a stylistic reference.
The wines opened up in an hour and were unmistakably Zinfandel. The Bedrock is ruby red, aroma was raspberry and black cherry, had a bright attack, crisp fruits, medium body, medium acidity and comparatively grippy tannins.
The DRM shows some bricking, not as prominent aromas of raspberry and cherry, though seems to be getting some fleeting coffee/cocoa bouquet. The wine is balanced across the palate, medium body, medium acidity, comparatively more complex fruit and smoother tannins.
In a vertical tasting these could be different vintages of the same wine. The wine is suitable both as a cocktail and with food.
I have ratted about 5 times over the years, this is the highest quality wine I been asked to review. The Bedrock is $25 delivered and is a good value. The photo shows the bricking. Thanks again for the opportunity to rat.
DRM on the right shows the bricking.
@msten which bottle would you rate slightly higher if asked?
@losthighwayz DRM. Old vs young. Side by side were very similar. The additional three years gives better balance, mouthfeel, complexity and the tannin edges have been smoothed. The Bedrock is 3 years younger. Theyāre both very good wines.
@msten thank you. Iāve enjoyed the Bedrock.
2016 DRM Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Hello Everyone, Lab Rat reporting for duty! I appolgize for the tardy report, I fell asleep before the offer went live and work has been hectic this morning!
This is a slightly long read, so TL;DR to the end for reasons why you should purchase this offer
I received an email Monday from Alice that we had a bottle of wine on the way! The shipment was redirected to a UPS pickup point for a hassle-free experience with the folks in brown Tuesday evening. Upon opening the package we found a bottle of 2016 DRM Winery Cabernet Sauvignon! The package was in great shape and the bottle was cool to the touch.
SWMBO and myself both enjoy dry red wines. We drink a wide variety including cabs, pinots, zins, etc. We generally steer away from overly extracted wines and prefer more traditional, āOld Worldā styles. For Cabernets and other Bordeaux varietals we typically like wines with at least 10 years of age on them, so were excited to see this bottle had a little bit of time in bottle to mature.
Reading the label we were excited to see the wine is low alcohol (13.5%) and is produced in a Bordeaux style. The vineyards are exciting as well!
The bottle made it to our home around 4pm and we opened it soon after. The cork is natural with no signs of creep, has a moderate stain from the wine, and no cork taint. Upon PnP the wine smells fantastic while pouring a small amount into a couple universal glasses.
The wine is clear, no signs of sediment, with a brilliant ruby color which starts to thin towards the edge of the glass with a slight amount of bricking.
The nose initially without swirling is earthy with red fruits and no noticeable alcohol or oak influence. My SO noticed a very slight herbal note but couldnāt distinguish it. First taste is very tight with lots of acidity, firm but smooth and very well integrated tannins, some vanilla and coriander, but not much fruit at this point. Initial impressions are the wine is very well made and high quality, well rounded but needs air.
Swirling the wine mutes the nose slightly, but otherwise it is still tight without a noticeable change to the palate. We decanted half the bottle and recorked the remaining half bottle under air for tasting the next day.
After 4 hours the wine is singing! The wine is very smooth and well-integrated at this point. Nose is dark chocolate and tons of cherries. The palate has tart cherries and strawberries, good acidity and noticeable tannins, but it is very smooth with a really nice, medium length finish. The wine is all red fruit at this point without any of the baking spice notes from before. I would expect more spice and graphite from a Bordeaux, so I think it is a stretch to directly compare this wine with that region, but it is a restrained wine and quite enjoyable. We are expecting a lot on the 2nd day!
24 hours after initial opening and the wine is very disappointing. There is noticeable alcohol on the nose and the smell and taste have both become quite astringent. Most of the flavor notes have faded and the wine is generally unpleasant to drink at this point.
To be honest, we cork Bordeaux varietals for consumption the next day and they generally improve. Last week we had a 2017 Pedroncelli Cab which was consumed over 3 days and continued to mellow and improve each day. What is confusing for me was how well the wine was showing after 4 and even 5 hours in a decanter but it fell flat on day 2.
So, TL;DR, we were very impressed with this cabernet. It is drinking well now, especially with a decant, but we would be hesitant to keep a bottle open for too long. With multiple bottles I would enjoy seeing how this wine improves with some age as I think it has the structure to go a little longer, but it could be near itās peak now. We both agreed anything under $30 Casemates price would be a great deal, and I would be happy paying $50 for this bottle from a local wine merchant.
Thank you Alice, David, and the team for sending us a bottle! Let me know if there are any questions!
@knlprez
The cab was great, the zin sounds good, I assume the Syrah will be as well. No room but I donāt think these will be around too long, so in for a case!
/giphy jovial-thankful-story
Neutral oak all around! Sounds up my alley. Hoping for some rats
Oh what the hell ā I have a coupon!
Good pedigree, interesting mix of wines and a good rat report, count me in for one!
/giphy generous-blinking-scrooge
2016 DRM Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
2016 DRM Winery āOld Vineā Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
2016 DRM Winery Syrah, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
Whatās Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$700.00/Case for 4x 2016 DRM Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley + 4x 2016 DRM Winery āOld Vineā Zinfandel, Napa Valley + 4x 2016 DRM Winery Syrah, Napa Valley
About The Winery
About the Winemaker
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 26 - Thursday, Dec 29
DRM Winery Mixed Napa Valley Reds
3 bottles for $69.99 $23.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $224.99 $18.75/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Cabernet
2016 Zinfandel
2016 Syrah
My arm could be twisted into a case split if anyone in the Columbus OH area is interested.
@fermentedwisdom Iāll take you up on that
@albish7 @fermentedwisdom dammit you beat me to it!!
These wines seem really interesting. Though with three cases of āBlack Fridayā purchases having just been delivered and all my wine racks more than full, I donāt have room for a(nother) case. Anyone in the Bay Area (I am in SF) interested in a split?
@davidj94112 I live in Napa. Are you ever in Napa? I could order a case and split with you. I am never really down in the bay area much at all anymore. I donāt even have enough room for the half case but this looks too good to pass up.
@davidj94112 @grn2k1civic
I would be interested in a split. I live in Santa Rosa but work in Napa.
@davidj94112 well well! If youāre serious in tempting me to add to my overflowing supply - consider me tempted. I am in SF proper and up for a 2-way or 3-way split
@alaflying @grn2k1civic Seems like a split between the two of you would be easier to execute, so feel free. While I do get up to Napa & Santa Rosa a fair amount, Iām not sure when Iāll be up there next.
@mic Iām down for a two-way split (a three way could mean weād have to vie for which bottles we want). If you want in, let me know and I can order (I have free shipping, so weāll save on that) and we can make arrangements for pickup when it arrives.
@mic @davidj94112 I am interested in a three way split. I live in Marin. Heading into the city isnāt an issue for me.
@cosmo108 Donāt think a three way split will work given that would equate for 4 bottles each and three different wines.
Any Atlanta folks interested in splitting a case? The cellar is overloaded but these sound really intriguing.
@winstoncharles
@winstoncharles i bought a case this morning. If you can drive to Milton i would split the case when it arrives. The cost for 6 is $123 which includes tax and shipping.
Anyone want to split a case in San Diego?
La mesa area here!
@aldinho101 Iāll keep you in mind for the next SD gathering invite list!
anyone in NH for a split?
/giphy flashy-crackling-solstice
In for a case
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2016 DRM Winery Mixed Napa Valley Reds - $55 = 19.63%
Opened the 2016 Syrah. I knew there was going to be a problem when noticed the cork was drenched and leakage was evident. Tasted like paint thinner. Wondering if these were stored properly. Bummed and a bit upset at the same time.
@losthighwayz how were the other wines? Were other bottles of the Syrah disappointing? DRM is up again today, and Iām very tempted, but this would be a big purchase for me and Iām hesitant to risk it if there are quality concernsā¦
@dak52 good morning. It was an off bottle. Had another Syrah last week and cork and profile were ok.
That being said, imo the DRM wines are good not great. Iāve had all three and theyāre missing that ooomph factor if that makes sense. Theyāre well made and fairly balanced but lack complexity for the most part. I was hoping for a āstealā but not quite. Case price is good but not enough for me to pull the trigger again. I hope this helps!
@dak52 share your thoughts on the wine if you decide to go in! Curious how our notes compare
@losthighwayz Will do! Hoping that for the money, they are at least a solid week-night sipper, but will share my thoughts once I get a chance to taste.
We have had one of the syrahs and thought it was off as well. It was better on day 2, but in a step down from something like a Wellington non-estate syrah.
The cab we ratted was very enjoyable, and I think we already drank all the zones, great weeknight slippers when you want to enjoy a bottle but not be analytical.
We are debating on the case as well.