2015 Kelley & Young Zinfandel, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma
Tasting Notes
On the nose, the wine opens with notes of dark cherry, black berries and bitter-sweet chocolate followed by full and rich flavors of dark cherry and black berries. It has an extra-long finish of bittersweet chocolate and just a bit of spice on the finish.
The Zinfandel is sourced from the Northern part of the ranch on Suther Laughlin Loam soils facing South across the valley. The vines were planted from 1989 through 1997. For aging, we use 100% French Oak (40% new) exclusively and produce approximately 200-300 cases annually.
It is perfect paired with roast beef, pork, lamb, or duck, as well as with aged cheeses, dried fruits, and nuts. Drink at room temperature with your favorite cut of beef (rib-eye or filet mignon), grilled beef kebabs, hamburger, BBQ baby back ribs, rack of lamb, or your favorite pasta or pizza. Our Zinfandel is greatly enjoyed with strong and rich cheeses like blue, feta, stilton, aged gruyere, gorgonzola, and havarti. One of our favorite pairings: Braised short ribs
Specs
Appellation: Alexander Valley, Robert Young Vineyards
Varietal: 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah
Aging: 100% Neutral French Oak (40% new) for 20 months
Alcohol: 15.8%
Production: 290 Cases
2015 Kelley & Young Malbec, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
2022 North Coast Wine Challenge, Silver Medal
Tasting Notes
This is a big, deep, dense, and structured wine with dominant aromas of black currant and plum with a touch of spicy cigar box. Its extra-long finish will make you fall in love and beg for more.
The Malbec is sourced from a 2.12 acre single block on the western-most portion of our ranch. The vines were planted in 1989 and we’ve made a single-varietal wine since the 2012 vintage. Malbec is primarily found in Cahors in Southwest France and now Argentina, but does very well in Sonoma County, where plentiful sunshine and heat imparts the ripe, juicy flavors and inky color the varietal is well-known for worldwide. For aging, we use 100% French Oak (30% - 40% new) exclusively and produce approximately 200-300 cases annually.
Because of our Malbecs versatility, food pairings don’t have to be solely meat-based. Its black currant and plum fruit notes make it ideal to pair with more savory dark-meat poultry and pork. Our Malbec’s flavor complexity and hint of spice allows for an equally complex blend of food pairing options. These can range from pork loin, St. Louis pork ribs, lean brisket, duck, roast beef, and wild game. When it comes to pairing cheese with our Malbec, go sharp and don’t be afraid of strong cheeses. Some of our favorites are hard-matured cheddars and semi-firm goat milk cheese and we suggest serving them along side black cherries, blueberries, and blackberries. One of our favorite pairings: Black-pepper skillet steak
Specs
Appellation: Alexander Valley, Robert Young Vineyards
Alcohol: 15.5%
What’s Included
4-bottles:
2x 2015 Kelley & Young Malbec, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
2x 2015 Kelley & Young Zinfandel, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County Case:
6x 2015 Kelley & Young Malbec, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
6x 2015 Kelley & Young Zinfandel, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
Started in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Jim Young and Kathleen Kelley Young, Kelley & Young Wines is a boutique winery located in the Alexander Valley region of Northern California’s Sonoma County wine country. Kelley & Young’s mission has always been to share Jim and Kathleen’s passion for good food and exceptional wine, but, in January 2021, Kathleen passed away at the age of 63 after a 4-plus-year battle with cancer. To honor their mother, Kathleen’s daughters, Madeline and Courtney, are continuing her legacy by helping Jim bring Kelley & Young wines to the world while helping raise money for cancer research through a partnership with the American Cancer Society.
We source the majority of our grapes from the family’s certified-sustainable Robert Young Vineyards, which comprises 287 acres of vineyards in Alexander Valley in northern Sonoma County and has been farmed by the Young family since 1858. Jim is the Vineyard Manager and CEO for Robert Young and he selects only the perfect places in the vineyard from which to source Kelley & Young grapes. He’s also able to grow those grapes just the way he likes so that the wines truly represent the terroir of the property.
The 450-acre property, which includes the vineyards, is nestled up against the Mayacama Mountain range to the north and east, with an expansive view of Alexander Valley and the coastal hills to the west and south. Robert Young Vineyards grows 12 varietals: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Melon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Riesling, and Zinfandel. About 95 percent of the grapes grown at Robert Young Vineyards are sold to large wineries (including Chateau St. Jean, Duckhorn, and Simi).
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, 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, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Kelley & Young Wines Mixed Reds - $50 = 25.63%
2015 Kelley & Young Malbec, Robert Young Vineyards
Reporting for duty! I had the pleasure to review the malbec being offered today. For context I am primarily a red drinker, more often gravitating to the heavier varietals like CS, Syrah, PS, etc with a preference to an “old world” style but also enjoying more extracted versions occasionally.
On to the notes: I received this bottle on a Wednesday and tasted on Thursday and Friday. Bottle was left at room temperature. There’s a fair amount of sediment and staining on the bottle side which indicates to me it had been stored for quite a long time on its side.
The wine is a very dark, opaque, plum or purple color. On PnP the legs are skinny and fast, for what it’s worth.
Not a lot of bouquet, I only get an alcohol/ menthol, with some very muted dark red and blue fruits, plum, blueberry.
On taste, it still is holding back. Very smooth entry, with some still grippy tannins but not over the top or overpowering. Some vanilla and cedar box presents in the mid to finish. Not a lot of describable fruit, just more dark fruit, I called out cassis and dark plum but I wouldn’t have been able to pick them out.
Night one we paired it with a honey garlic pork tenderloin, which went well with the wine but didn’t offer any change.
An hour after opening, the alcohol has burnt off, still some menthol present. The fruit is a bit more present, a bit more cedar on the finish, it’s turned out to be a very delicious, easy drinking, well rounded wine.
Day 2 the fruit is actually more pronounced, the cedar has faded some, and it continues to drink beautifully.
I put this around a $25-30 shop MSRP, the $60+ list price isn’t surprising (but I probably wouldn’t pay that), at the $15 CM price it’s a no brainer for me to have a high quality Tuesday night wine or something you pull out to impress non-wine drinkers
Hope that helps!
2015 Kelley & Young Zinfandel, Robert Young Vineyards
For context, I’m a big Pinot Noir drinker with a fondness for Malbec & Shiraz and enjoy the heavier reds as well, but tend to prefer them with a hearty meal.
On the first pour, it has a beautiful, deep garnet red color and the legs are ok. On the nose, I’m getting leather, currant, a hint of tobacco and dark cherry? Is that a hint of granite or limestone in there as well?
It has a very silky mouth feel with some currant, black cherry, dark chocolate, leather and a tiny hint of tobacco like you’d get from a light bodied cigar or pipe tobacco. Nice dry finish that you definitely notice, but not so much that you wonder where you set your water glass. It’s not as full as some zins, but it does ok. This was a small pour and there was some sediment left in the glass so I imagine there’s going to be some later in the bottle.
Left it open and came back after an hour. The fruit has dimmed down and I get a smokiness and definitely a bit of stone with the leather and dark chocolate. Had a glass with dinner of brown butter basted NY Strip and roasted Brussels sprouts. It complimented the earthiness of the dishes, but didn’t really elevate.
After dinner it has mellowed more and the alcohol is a bit more present, but it is very much a drinkable dark red wine. The character is much more subtle and I’m getting dark cherry, chocolate and leather with a little bit of currant and plum. Tannins are a bit more evident and it definitely drinks more dry than earlier.
If you’re a fan of dry medium bold wines, this should be right up your alley.
Finally opened a zin bottle after buying the case and it’s fabulous if you like a brooding, dark red. It is a bit jammy, but more in a blackberry pie way. I don’t know if I’d put down a whole bottle (seems to have some RS) but it’s a very nice glass. Great QPR for me.
2015 Kelley & Young Zinfandel, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma
Tasting Notes
Specs
2015 Kelley & Young Malbec, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
2022 North Coast Wine Challenge, Silver Medal
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$678.00/Case for 6x 2015 Kelley & Young Malbec, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County + 6x 2015 Kelley & Young Zinfandel, Robert Young Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County at Kelley & Young Wines
About The Winery
Kelley & Young Wines
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, 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, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Mar 18 - Wednesday, Mar 20
Kelley & Young Wines Mixed Reds
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $144.99 $12.08/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2015 Kelley & Young Zinfandel
2015 Kelley & Young Malbec
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Kelley & Young Wines Mixed Reds - $50 = 25.63%
Very interested…hoping for a
to come out
@dawnlac ill be posting my notes on the malbec soon
@deadlyapp Thank you! The Malbec is the one I’m most interested in.
2015 Kelley & Young Malbec, Robert Young Vineyards
Reporting for duty! I had the pleasure to review the malbec being offered today. For context I am primarily a red drinker, more often gravitating to the heavier varietals like CS, Syrah, PS, etc with a preference to an “old world” style but also enjoying more extracted versions occasionally.
On to the notes: I received this bottle on a Wednesday and tasted on Thursday and Friday. Bottle was left at room temperature. There’s a fair amount of sediment and staining on the bottle side which indicates to me it had been stored for quite a long time on its side.
The wine is a very dark, opaque, plum or purple color. On PnP the legs are skinny and fast, for what it’s worth.
Not a lot of bouquet, I only get an alcohol/ menthol, with some very muted dark red and blue fruits, plum, blueberry.
On taste, it still is holding back. Very smooth entry, with some still grippy tannins but not over the top or overpowering. Some vanilla and cedar box presents in the mid to finish. Not a lot of describable fruit, just more dark fruit, I called out cassis and dark plum but I wouldn’t have been able to pick them out.
Night one we paired it with a honey garlic pork tenderloin, which went well with the wine but didn’t offer any change.
An hour after opening, the alcohol has burnt off, still some menthol present. The fruit is a bit more present, a bit more cedar on the finish, it’s turned out to be a very delicious, easy drinking, well rounded wine.
Day 2 the fruit is actually more pronounced, the cedar has faded some, and it continues to drink beautifully.
I put this around a $25-30 shop MSRP, the $60+ list price isn’t surprising (but I probably wouldn’t pay that), at the $15 CM price it’s a no brainer for me to have a high quality Tuesday night wine or something you pull out to impress non-wine drinkers
Hope that helps!
@deadlyapp just to be clear, I didnt read the winery notes before making my own and im happy to see they are near identical
2015 Kelley & Young Zinfandel, Robert Young Vineyards
For context, I’m a big Pinot Noir drinker with a fondness for Malbec & Shiraz and enjoy the heavier reds as well, but tend to prefer them with a hearty meal.
On the first pour, it has a beautiful, deep garnet red color and the legs are ok. On the nose, I’m getting leather, currant, a hint of tobacco and dark cherry? Is that a hint of granite or limestone in there as well?
It has a very silky mouth feel with some currant, black cherry, dark chocolate, leather and a tiny hint of tobacco like you’d get from a light bodied cigar or pipe tobacco. Nice dry finish that you definitely notice, but not so much that you wonder where you set your water glass. It’s not as full as some zins, but it does ok. This was a small pour and there was some sediment left in the glass so I imagine there’s going to be some later in the bottle.
Left it open and came back after an hour. The fruit has dimmed down and I get a smokiness and definitely a bit of stone with the leather and dark chocolate. Had a glass with dinner of brown butter basted NY Strip and roasted Brussels sprouts. It complimented the earthiness of the dishes, but didn’t really elevate.
After dinner it has mellowed more and the alcohol is a bit more present, but it is very much a drinkable dark red wine. The character is much more subtle and I’m getting dark cherry, chocolate and leather with a little bit of currant and plum. Tannins are a bit more evident and it definitely drinks more dry than earlier.
If you’re a fan of dry medium bold wines, this should be right up your alley.
This offer seems like a no brainer. I do wonder how much life is left in these.
@smoothie72 the Malbec certainly has another 5+ years id say. Theyre still selling it on the winery website.
@deadlyapp thanks for the info.
/giphy volatile-scarce-harpy
I’m in for a case.
Finally opened a zin bottle after buying the case and it’s fabulous if you like a brooding, dark red. It is a bit jammy, but more in a blackberry pie way. I don’t know if I’d put down a whole bottle (seems to have some RS) but it’s a very nice glass. Great QPR for me.