2019 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Our estate zinfandel almost always gives us sweet caramel on the nose with a bit of spice. A bit lighter than most zinfandels, the bright, fruity finish will pair well with grilled foods. Drink by 2028.
Specs
Vintage:2019
Varietal: Zinfandel
Appellation: Calistoga, Napa Valley
Barrel Aging: 18 months, 100% American
Alcohol: 15.9%
pH: 3.59
Cases Produced: 156
2018 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley
This vintage is a bit different than previous vintages. In order to make our new blend, we separated the Petite Sirah and the Touriga Nacionale from the main Zinfandel fruit to make a truly pure Zinfandel. This wine is nicely balanced with moderate tannins, and our classic estate structure. An intriguing nose a touch of caramel and cherry. A delay in bottling meant this wine was in barrel for 30 months. Drink by 2027
Specs
Vintage:2018
Varietal: Zinfandel
Appellation: Calistoga, Napa Valley
Barrel Aging: 30 months
Alcohol: 15.2%
pH: 3.62
Cases Produced:355
What’s Included
4-bottles:
2x 2019 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley
2x 2018 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley Case:
6x 2019 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley
6x 2018 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Laura and Michael Swanton know the many challenges of establishing a boutique winery dedicated to crafting small quantities of fine wine in the Napa Valley. They have experienced them all in their demanding, yet delicious, journey from fledging winery to award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel producers.
A long-time wine enthusiast, Owner, and Proprietor Laura Swanton purchased the Calistoga winery estate that would become Laura Michael Wines from the Traulsen family in 1999. At the time, Laura was a sales specialist with Cisco Systems in San Jose. It was a career that required intimate knowledge of high-tech product application. Knowing how the technology worked was critical to her success in selling the product.
At the time Laura purchased the winery, Michael had embarked on an independent career in power generation and services, a career that spanned nearly two decades. When they came together in 2006, their current journey started and continues to this day.
Today, their tenacity for learning systems and science is directed at running their small winery and vineyard estate dedicated to limited-production, premium red wines. Since 1999, Laura has managed all winemaking processes from grape sourcing to the logistics of launching and operating a winery. Her zeal to understand winegrowing at its root has her pruning, picking, irrigating, and collecting samples in the vineyard. A thirst for winemaking knowledge encourages her participation in crush, pump-overs, racking, and bottling.
“We do it all,” says Laura. “It’s so important that we work alongside every member of our team from the temporary harvest help to our consulting winemaker. We are not ones to stand on the sidelines, and fortunately, because we are as small as we are, we can be actively involved in every aspect of this business.”
Available States
AL, 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, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Laura Michael Two Vintage Zinfandel from Napa Valley
4 bottles for $89.99 $22.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $219.99 $18.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Smoke taint?
One of my favorite memories of Napa is a visit in 2005 where Laura had us do a side by side tasting of the same zinfandel, only difference being that one had been opened and a glass poured out for an hour and the other was pop and pour. Really cool, personable, and educational.
We’ve really been getting into cooking our own beans over the last year or so. Takes a little time, but not that much effort. Boy howdy let me tell you that beans made with your own stock on your own stove are next level delicious.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Laura Michael Two Vintage Zinfandel from Napa Valley - $50 = 18.51%
My email from Alice asked if I was available for a ‘last minute’ rattage. I could hardly say “No”.
The bottle that arrived was a 2019 Laura Michael Zinfandel. I’d seen the name go by before, but I hadn’t had a taste.
On PnP, I’d describe the color as ‘dark red’ – but my color perception sucks. Swirling produces long legs, for what that’s worth. Not much initially on the nose, but dark fruits began to develop over time.
Dark fruits also on the palate, with a bit of caramel and vanilla. Light tannins, a bit of oak. Smooth and velvety on the tongue – nothing there not to like. Didn’t get to much pairings, but it did fine with a bourbon Gouda cheese, and it seemed like it was dying for a steak.
rpm here, reporting for Lab Rat duty…today for the
Laura Michael 2018 Oat Hill Calistoga Napa Valley Zinfandel
We had a foursome tasting crew - rpm, SWMBO, Daughter #1 (who has an excellent palate) and her husband (who is learning about wine from D#1); as always, we worked with a modified-Davis 20 point scoring sheet.
For logistical reasons, we didn’t have a chance to let the wine rest a day, but no matter…
This is a very nice bottle of Napa Zinfandel!
On opening, the cork was barely wet - just an observation consistent with the notes from the winery that the wine spent 30 months in wood before being bottled. Nose was tight, but clear aromas of raspberries, currants and pepper, with a touch of oak came through right away. A well-balanced nose.
The color was brilliantly clear (2/2), color was characteristic, with good depth, but on the lighter side of Zin, not ‘thick’ as if it had Pets or something else in the blend (2/2).
Aroma and bouquet, with its distinct raspberries, currants, pepper, some oak and an unidentifiable spice was classically Napa Zinfandel, it wasn’t as intense as we would have liked to start, but with an hour it had really opened up; it was delicious with D#1’s homemade focaccia/pizza. (4/6)
Balance was good, but seem a bit acidic to one taster (1/2). I note here the alcohol is 15.2%, which is higher than rpm prefers, but it was not off putting in this wine except to the 1 taster.
To more technical points, it was appropriately dry (1/1), had medium body, good mouth feel (1/1) - as an aside, classical Zinfandels should not feel heavy and thick like Pets, it wasn’t bitter (1/1) or inappropriately astringent (1/1)
The flavors were fully in harmony with the nose - with identifiable raspberry and current flavors, pepper, and some, but not excessive, oak. Well-integrated. (2/2).
For general quality we were all 2/2. It has a fairly long finish, with good tannin. A very solid, obviously Napa Zin with some development ahead of it (I pretty much agree it will peak around 2027-28, but it’s quite enjoyable now.
For purists like me, who like mature wines, it will be particularly interesting to see whether (how) the current harmony of aromas and flavors develops with additional bottle age.
Final score: 17/20 - Outstanding.
I would recommend this Zinfandel highly.
Given California prices have gotten pretty crazy, nothing seems to me a bargain these days…but at $20/bottle or less the QPR is superior to most of what I see today. Even at $25 a bottle, it is a good value.
I cannot pass up any of Laura’s offerings since I both love her wines and am pretty sure she is out of the business so we won’t be seeing much more. Also, great rattage!
I thought Laura & Michael sold their winery a while back? I always loved their wines, but then became too expensive for me! I just checked my inventory and I still have 5 btls of their Cab ranging from '05 to '15. That includes the Calistoga & Beckstoffer Georges III vineyards. Then 6 btls of Calistoga Zinfandel from '10 to '16. So I think I’ll shout out to both of them with an order.
Have always enjoyed these wines and I too am not sure there will be much more-still enjoying their dessert wine from a few months ago. My splitters didn’t come thru on that one but I am glad about that.
@reesai and that my friend is why I stay up late to see what is on the offering plate, I’m thankful I don’t live in eastern time zone. was the third order last night, figuring this was a sell out
2019 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
2018 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$576.00/Case for 6x 2019 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley + 6x 2018 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley at Laura Michael Wines Inc
About The Winery
Available States
AL, 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, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 5 - Tuesday, Aug 6
Laura Michael Two Vintage Zinfandel from Napa Valley
4 bottles for $89.99 $22.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $219.99 $18.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel
2019 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel
Smoke taint?
One of my favorite memories of Napa is a visit in 2005 where Laura had us do a side by side tasting of the same zinfandel, only difference being that one had been opened and a glass poured out for an hour and the other was pop and pour. Really cool, personable, and educational.
timid-breakable-bean
We’ve really been getting into cooking our own beans over the last year or so. Takes a little time, but not that much effort. Boy howdy let me tell you that beans made with your own stock on your own stove are next level delicious.
Reminds me of this place getting some national coverage a couple years ago:
Rancho Gordo
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Laura Michael Two Vintage Zinfandel from Napa Valley - $50 = 18.51%
Autobuy? I don’t mind, but why no rats?
2019 Laura Michael Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel
My email from Alice asked if I was available for a ‘last minute’ rattage. I could hardly say “No”.
The bottle that arrived was a 2019 Laura Michael Zinfandel. I’d seen the name go by before, but I hadn’t had a taste.
On PnP, I’d describe the color as ‘dark red’ – but my color perception sucks. Swirling produces long legs, for what that’s worth. Not much initially on the nose, but dark fruits began to develop over time.
Dark fruits also on the palate, with a bit of caramel and vanilla. Light tannins, a bit of oak. Smooth and velvety on the tongue – nothing there not to like. Didn’t get to much pairings, but it did fine with a bourbon Gouda cheese, and it seemed like it was dying for a steak.
rpm here, reporting for Lab Rat duty…today for the
Laura Michael 2018 Oat Hill Calistoga Napa Valley Zinfandel
We had a foursome tasting crew - rpm, SWMBO, Daughter #1 (who has an excellent palate) and her husband (who is learning about wine from D#1); as always, we worked with a modified-Davis 20 point scoring sheet.
For logistical reasons, we didn’t have a chance to let the wine rest a day, but no matter…
This is a very nice bottle of Napa Zinfandel!
On opening, the cork was barely wet - just an observation consistent with the notes from the winery that the wine spent 30 months in wood before being bottled. Nose was tight, but clear aromas of raspberries, currants and pepper, with a touch of oak came through right away. A well-balanced nose.
The color was brilliantly clear (2/2), color was characteristic, with good depth, but on the lighter side of Zin, not ‘thick’ as if it had Pets or something else in the blend (2/2).
Aroma and bouquet, with its distinct raspberries, currants, pepper, some oak and an unidentifiable spice was classically Napa Zinfandel, it wasn’t as intense as we would have liked to start, but with an hour it had really opened up; it was delicious with D#1’s homemade focaccia/pizza. (4/6)
Balance was good, but seem a bit acidic to one taster (1/2). I note here the alcohol is 15.2%, which is higher than rpm prefers, but it was not off putting in this wine except to the 1 taster.
To more technical points, it was appropriately dry (1/1), had medium body, good mouth feel (1/1) - as an aside, classical Zinfandels should not feel heavy and thick like Pets, it wasn’t bitter (1/1) or inappropriately astringent (1/1)
The flavors were fully in harmony with the nose - with identifiable raspberry and current flavors, pepper, and some, but not excessive, oak. Well-integrated. (2/2).
For general quality we were all 2/2. It has a fairly long finish, with good tannin. A very solid, obviously Napa Zin with some development ahead of it (I pretty much agree it will peak around 2027-28, but it’s quite enjoyable now.
For purists like me, who like mature wines, it will be particularly interesting to see whether (how) the current harmony of aromas and flavors develops with additional bottle age.
Final score: 17/20 - Outstanding.
I would recommend this Zinfandel highly.
Given California prices have gotten pretty crazy, nothing seems to me a bargain these days…but at $20/bottle or less the QPR is superior to most of what I see today. Even at $25 a bottle, it is a good value.
Would love to know about Laura’s experience in power generation and services.
I cannot pass up any of Laura’s offerings since I both love her wines and am pretty sure she is out of the business so we won’t be seeing much more. Also, great rattage!
I thought Laura & Michael sold their winery a while back? I always loved their wines, but then became too expensive for me! I just checked my inventory and I still have 5 btls of their Cab ranging from '05 to '15. That includes the Calistoga & Beckstoffer Georges III vineyards. Then 6 btls of Calistoga Zinfandel from '10 to '16. So I think I’ll shout out to both of them with an order.
Are we limited to one case? The FAQ did not have anything.
@free2day33611
Generally orders are limited to two items, be they the smaller quantity offered or the full case; two total of your choice, mix/match
@rjquillin Excellent, love her wines and I have no remaining.
Have always enjoyed these wines and I too am not sure there will be much more-still enjoying their dessert wine from a few months ago. My splitters didn’t come thru on that one but I am glad about that.
/giphy petulant-scattered-fang
ba da ba ba bah, I’m lovin’ it!
Anyone want to split a case in the Atlanta area?
Ah must have just sold out…
Oh no!! I just saw this and was going to buy. Laura Michael is an auto buy for me.
@reesai and that my friend is why I stay up late to see what is on the offering plate, I’m thankful I don’t live in eastern time zone. was the third order last night, figuring this was a sell out
Darn, just got on to order and all gone!!