2020 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
93 Points, The Tasting Panel Magazine
Tasting Notes
Our Mother Clone is a classic ‘Dry Creek’ Zinfandel with aromas of ripe red berries with a touch of cinnamon, vanilla, and white pepper spice. Red cherry flavors combine with vanilla, licorice, and warm baking spices. The berry-spice combination, so typical of Dry Creek Zin, includes a touch of pepper with the rounded finish which are a hallmark of our style. Enjoy now
or cellar for three to five years.
Mother Clone Vineyard Sources
The Pedroncelli house is founded on Zinfandel. It was the first grape planted in the early 1900s, it was the first wine Giovanni made after Prohibition ended and it was also the first varietal we labeled under our name in 1947. Using the bud wood from the mother vineyard to clone a second generation carries our vineyard story forward, echoing the generations of our family. The fruit from three generations of these “mother” vines are part of the blend as well as fruit from the Bushnell and Giovannoni vineyards.
Winemaking
It was a good growing season with a warm summer and a few heat spikes in September. Grapes for the Mother Clone Zinfandel come mostly from the home ranch on the hillsides of Dry Creek. The grapes were picked in the second week of September based on maturity and acidity levels. A high concentration of phenols and aromatics in this vintage. At the crushpad, destemmed grapes are transferred to a fermentation tank to cold soak for 48 hours and then is inoculated with selected yeast. Daily pump-overs and fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with delestage regimes are done for maximum phenolic extraction. Pressing follows and the new wine is transferred to storage tanks until barreled down. Twelve months of aging in American oak barrels develops additional complexity. The addition of Petite Sirah (9%) adds depth of color and brings structure to the wine.
Specs
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Aging: 12 months in American Oak, 30% new oak
Alcohol: 15.9%
pH: 3.81
Total Acidity: .570g/100ml
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
93 Points, Beverage Institute Testing
Tasting Notes
Aromas of cassis, spicy oak, and mocha introduce this medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft tannins are framed by black plum and cherry followed by highlights of dried herbs and dark chocolate notes. Great structure and good acidity combine with a persistent and rounded finish. Enjoy upon release or cellar for up to ten more years.
Three Vineyard Blend
Estate fruit was harvested from the northern end of Dry Creek Valley, where these Bordeaux varieties excel. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot were hand-picked just a mile from the winery. Each develops exceptional character on the vineyard sites situated on the valley bench. The vines receive the right amount of sun and cooling fog which develops optimal flavors in the grapes. Careful vineyard management during the growing season defines the style even more.
Winemaking
The 2020 vintage started with a quality growing season with rain in Spring and a warm Summer with few heat spikes in September. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were picked on the last days of September based on maturity and acidity levels. High concentration of phenols and aromatics with mild tannins.
Once at the crush pad, the grapes are de-stemmed and cold-soaked for 48 hours. Inoculated with the Bordeaux yeast strain, fermentation followed in stainless steel tanks. During this time, in order to get the best color and flavor, the juice is circulated over the cap daily and gently macerated to extract the color and flavors from the skins. Once dry the new wine is pressed and stored until barreled in the winter. The separate lots were aged French oak barrels for one year in order to develop smoothness and complexity.
Barrel aging: 12 months in French oak with 30% new oak
Alcohol: 14.4%
pH 3.69
Total Acidity: .680g/100ml
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Block 007, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Enticing aromas of toasty oak, dried herbs, and blackberry notes are typical of this vineyard’s personality. Smooth tannins introduce berry flavors combined with a touch of pepper, cedar, and a mocha. A rounded finish framed by minerality and bright acidity is simply elegant. Medium to full bodied the wine’s great structure leads to marvelous aging potential.
Single Vineyard—Block 007
Our vineyards are assigned block numbers to identify them as they are planted. Block 007 refers to one portion of our vineyard located a mile west of the winery, on the eastern bench above Dry Creek, and has caught the attention of our winemaking team because it consistently produces fruit of singular quality.
We farm 31 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon on our estate and were the first to plant the king of red wine grapes in Dry Creek Valley circa 1965. It was established in 1992 on the Scott Henry trellis system which splits the cordon arms into a double tier. This is for optimum production and ripeness. The soil is well-drained and located next to Canyon Creek where it is
gravelly and ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaking
The vintage brought a good growing season with rain in spring and warm summer temperatures with only a few heat spikes in September. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Block 007 were picked on the last days of September based on maturity and acidity levels. High concentration of phenols and aromatics in this vintage with mild tannins. The block was picked on September 22. The juice and berries are cold-soaked for 48 hours and then inoculated with the Bordeaux yeast strain. Fermentation in our small capacity temperature-controlled stainless steel tank gave optimal skin/juice ratio and better extraction of flavor and color. The young wine was transferred to small American oak barrels to age for seventeen months with 40% new oak.
Specs
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Composition: 100% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Barrel Aging: 17 months in American oak barrels, 40% new
Alcohol: 13.9%
pH: 3.72
Total Acidity: .580g/100ml
What’s Included
6-bottles:
2x 2020 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
2x 2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
2x 2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Block 007, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County Case:
4x 2020 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
4x 2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
4x 2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Block 007, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
The year was 1927. President Calvin Coolidge captured the imagination of nobody. Babe Ruth hit home run after home run powered by little more than whiskey and sausage. And John Pedroncelli, Sr. bought a vineyard and winery in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. Since then, four generations of Pedroncellis have weathered Prohibition, wine booms and busts, and changing tastes. And they’re still a family-owned operation making acclaimed premium wines. Wherever you are now, Sultan of Swat and Silent Cal, this next glass is for you.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
@klezman@rjquillin I’m drinking some now: there’s enough fruit in the wine to balance the high alcohol. But then, full disclosure, I like port and this definitely has some port-like attributes. It goes very well with blue cheese.
@FritzCat true if the offer were all Block 007 then a great QPR that Ped used to be known for around here. I can find the Mother Clone at my local BevMo for $18 on a regular basis
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley
My first impression was of a fragrant wine, smooth on the palate, easy drinking, with a long finish. This is one of those wines that leaves a good taste in the mouth, even several minutes later. It’s a little lighter than previous vintages, but it’s a wine which is very much together. It invites sipping.
The flavor tends toward dark berries-- mulberries, blackberries, black raspberries. At 14.3%, it isn’t overly alcoholic, but the alcohol is there, although nicely balanced with fruit. The wine feels good in the mouth and the flavor lingers on and on. It’s ready to drink right now, but would probably keep well for several years. (I’ll drink mine fairly soon, just because I like it right now.)
To compare, I opened a bottle of the 2019 vintage, and confirmed my earlier impression that the 2020 is a little lighter. My wife preferred the 2019; while it was different, I didn’t think it was any better.
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Block 007, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Finally! We got an amazing bottle to Rat! Thanks to Alice and the crew at Casemates.
Picked up the single bottle box at our local UPS depot, opened it on the spot, and all were impressed with the classy looking bottle. I was doubly impressed because it was Pedroncelli, which I know and love.
The next day, Saturday, we had a lot of family over, so I invited those interested to assist in the Rattage. My step-nephew (a relatively newly minted lawyer), his sister’s husband (a relatively newly minted dentist) and my daughter’s man (a porn site data security guy) all volunteered. I’ve been cultivating the lawyer for a few years, and he’s working very hard to develop his palate, now focusing on Left-Bank Bordeaux. The others are amateurs, but don’t hesitate to share their opinions.
About an hour earlier, I had popped the cork and poured the wine into a decanter…violently! We all gathered around and I poured an aliquot into each of four glasses. Our initial sniffy-sniff revealed little. A little alcohol, despite the 13.9 ABV listed on the label. Some brooding dark notes with mostly leather, earth and wood were evident, but very little fruit, a little blueberry was noted. The color was not at all opaque, but a nice dark maroon with a lighter rim, and taster #4 noted the nice legs, as he would. The two neophytes were already quaffing the magic elixir, so we joined them in an initial taste. The flavor followed the nose closely. To me, it tasted old-world, but not too dry, with lots of leather, oak and a mixed dark fruit undertone, and a little “jagged”, not really well-integrated yet. Seems old-world to me. The lawyer agreed that it was Bordeaux-like and submitted the “leather, oak, earthy” comments. There was medium+ acid (compared to the new-world wines I generally drink) and the tannins were present but not harsh.
The finish was very pleasant and lasted forever! We did not notice any indication of smoke taint, a concern for some 2020’s. Perhaps these grapes were picked earlier than normal to avoid the smoke, thus the 13.9% or perhaps Pedroncelli just has a favorable location.
We moved downstairs to look for an older, similar Pedroncelli Cab. I quickly found the 2016 Wisdom, Dry Creek Valley Cabernet (14.2 ABV). We moved back upstairs and I popped the cork on that one. The nose and taste was very similar, but it had resolved nicely and was “smoother”, according to the new guys.
This morning I took a swig (for science) and the 007 has further evolved toward the smoothness of the 2016.
In summary; this wine might be perfect for old-world or Pedroncelli lovers. It appears to be well-made, and will last quite a while in the cellar, in fact, it might be made for some cellaring. We didn’t drink ours with food, but it might be excellent with a nice chunk of meat. I suspect that since Pedroncelli has been around for a long time they can sell us superior wines at amazingly good prices, and I suspect that this offering is no different.
@FritzCat Two days later. The 007 is still going strong. It tastes very similar to the 2016 on Pop-N-Pour. This wine will last a decade or more in your cellar. The 2016, on the other hand, has started to go flat. Drink up.
Well producer website references lots of zin reviews, this one made the rounds for sure.
Let’s leadoff with Mr. Wilfred:
90 Points. The 2020 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel is rich yet lifted on the palate. This wine offers aromas and flavors of fresh tilled dirt, brambleberries, earth, and tar. Enjoy it with dry-rubbed, grilled pork ribs. (Tasted: February 17, 2023
Spectator (zin):
90 Points. A gutsy red that’s easy to drink, with lively blackberry, licorice and savory peppercorn flavors that build toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2030. 6,500 cases made. TF
The above mentioned Tasting Panel thoughts (zin):
93 Points. A hearty and ripe yet elegant style with rich notes of mocha, a slathering of blackberry reduction and a creamy licorice finish. March/April 2023
RWS offered the zin as part of a mixed deal Dec '22:
The 2020 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel opens with a wonderful aroma of blackberry, plum, baking spice, licorice and touches of vanilla that all combine seamlessly. Taking a sip reveals a smooth, lovely, medium to full-bodied wine filled with juicy dark berry fruit, more wonderfully integrated spice, vanilla and a little cola. It’s flavorful but not over the top and quite well-balanced. It tastes similar to the 2019 vintage we previously offered although it has a bit more oak influence at this point, which is likely just because it is younger. Black pepper and a touch of smoke lead into the dry, very long finish of this fantastic wine. And while it’s drinking amazingly well now (and maybe even slightly better on day 2), we know from experience that the wines from Pedroncelli get even better with age so don’t be afraid to stock up.
On to the Block 007:
Beverage Tasting Institute. 90 Points. Gold Medal. Exceptional. Garnet black color. Aromas and flavors of sweaty horse blanket and polished leather saddle, black cherry, chocolate powder, and irish breakfast tea with a round, crisp, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, interesting, medium-long finish with accents of black cherry cranberry juice, cedar and aged tobacco, chocolate covered acai, and dry herbal tea with medium tannins and a suggestion of oak flavor. A depth of fruit with some savory and earthy tones that would accompany a roast and root vegetables splendidly. RS .2% 2/7/23
BTI on the Three Vineyards:
93 Points. Gold Medal. Exceptional. Violet color. Aromas and flavors of brandied cherries and black plum, polished leather, 70% dark chocolate, and coconut cream with a round, crisp, dry medium-to-full body and a long finish revealing notes of black cherry and blood orange, leather, cedar, and grilled peppers, coconut, coffee, and plum sauce, and portobello mushrooms. Vibrant Cabernet with an excellent use of blending to highlight savory herbal tones and chocolate covered coconut undercurrents. RS .2% 2/7/23
40 seconds of producer marketing Three Vineyards :
2020 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
On Friday, an unannounced box was sitting on the receiving label at the office which was immediately recognized as a bottle of wine from Casemates. THe UPS label indicated it was a 2020 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel. Hmm, I would almost be able to write a rat report on that without even opening the bottle as I have enjoyed many bottles of Mother Clone.
I opened the bottle Saturday afternoon after a busy day in the yard with a large pile of mulch to move and spread. On the pop the bottle poured a dark purple with familiar aromas of spices, dark fruits, and yes, heat on the nose. An initial sip was also familiar with plum, dark red berries the vanilla and spices and some barrel character that presented as some smokiness. To be clear this was not smoke taint smokieness, but toasted barrel notes. I reached for the label and saw the 15.9% alcohol - the heat wasn’t my imagination. I looked over the past 2 vintages and saw 2019 at 15.5% and 2018 (my favorite vintage) at 14.8%. The alcohol was obvious at first but faded into the background after the first glass. Food accompaniment was a simple salad and pepperoni pizza which paired well, I mean a Zin, right?
Second evening the alcohol has blown off quite a bit, the barrel character smokiness was fully gone and the dark berry character was fully in the front. I left one last glass for this evening, sorry up to early for a pre-dawn taste. As with most Pedroncelli’s, this will surely improve with some rest in the cellar, but with a little air it is enjoyable now. With the mix in this offer, the deal is solid, not the blow out pricing we have had in the past, but costs have risen so it is a recommended buy.
@pjmartin The last small pour was the best yet, reinforcing my comfort with the bottles I already have in the basement. Aromas are brighter, alcohol heat is reduced and the taste is more integrated. Thank you CaseMates and Pedroncelli for the rat bottle.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignons & Zinfandel - $15 = 6.82%
Can’t believe I missed this! Anyone in the Atlanta area a looking to split a case they ordered? I’m in the wine club and have a case on the way, but these prices are much lower.
2020 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
93 Points, The Tasting Panel Magazine
Tasting Notes
Mother Clone Vineyard Sources
Winemaking
Specs
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
93 Points, Beverage Institute Testing
Tasting Notes
Three Vineyard Blend
Winemaking
Specs
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Block 007, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Single Vineyard—Block 007
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$302.40/Case for 4x 2020 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County + 4x 2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County + 4x 2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Block 007, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County at Pedroncelli Winery & Vineyards
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, May 30
Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignons & Zinfandel
6 bottles for $109.99 $18.33/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $204.99 $17.08/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2020 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Block 007
15.9% on the mother clone? Yikes!
@klezman Thinking the same. Typo!?
But that is what is on the trade spec sheet as well.
@klezman @rjquillin
Pretty sure this bottle hase been into the 15’s for years, your surprised?
@rjquillin @ScottW58 big difference, usually, for me between low 15s and high 15s
@klezman @rjquillin I’m drinking some now: there’s enough fruit in the wine to balance the high alcohol. But then, full disclosure, I like port and this definitely has some port-like attributes. It goes very well with blue cheese.
$18 per for a Ped offering? Yikes!
@losthighwayz $17 if you buy a case…recommended!
@FritzCat true if the offer were all Block 007 then a great QPR that Ped used to be known for around here. I can find the Mother Clone at my local BevMo for $18 on a regular basis
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley
My first impression was of a fragrant wine, smooth on the palate, easy drinking, with a long finish. This is one of those wines that leaves a good taste in the mouth, even several minutes later. It’s a little lighter than previous vintages, but it’s a wine which is very much together. It invites sipping.
The flavor tends toward dark berries-- mulberries, blackberries, black raspberries. At 14.3%, it isn’t overly alcoholic, but the alcohol is there, although nicely balanced with fruit. The wine feels good in the mouth and the flavor lingers on and on. It’s ready to drink right now, but would probably keep well for several years. (I’ll drink mine fairly soon, just because I like it right now.)
To compare, I opened a bottle of the 2019 vintage, and confirmed my earlier impression that the 2020 is a little lighter. My wife preferred the 2019; while it was different, I didn’t think it was any better.
@DickL thank you for the report
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon, Block 007, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Finally! We got an amazing bottle to Rat! Thanks to Alice and the crew at Casemates.
Picked up the single bottle box at our local UPS depot, opened it on the spot, and all were impressed with the classy looking bottle. I was doubly impressed because it was Pedroncelli, which I know and love.
The next day, Saturday, we had a lot of family over, so I invited those interested to assist in the Rattage. My step-nephew (a relatively newly minted lawyer), his sister’s husband (a relatively newly minted dentist) and my daughter’s man (a porn site data security guy) all volunteered. I’ve been cultivating the lawyer for a few years, and he’s working very hard to develop his palate, now focusing on Left-Bank Bordeaux. The others are amateurs, but don’t hesitate to share their opinions.
About an hour earlier, I had popped the cork and poured the wine into a decanter…violently! We all gathered around and I poured an aliquot into each of four glasses. Our initial sniffy-sniff revealed little. A little alcohol, despite the 13.9 ABV listed on the label. Some brooding dark notes with mostly leather, earth and wood were evident, but very little fruit, a little blueberry was noted. The color was not at all opaque, but a nice dark maroon with a lighter rim, and taster #4 noted the nice legs, as he would. The two neophytes were already quaffing the magic elixir, so we joined them in an initial taste. The flavor followed the nose closely. To me, it tasted old-world, but not too dry, with lots of leather, oak and a mixed dark fruit undertone, and a little “jagged”, not really well-integrated yet. Seems old-world to me. The lawyer agreed that it was Bordeaux-like and submitted the “leather, oak, earthy” comments. There was medium+ acid (compared to the new-world wines I generally drink) and the tannins were present but not harsh.
The finish was very pleasant and lasted forever! We did not notice any indication of smoke taint, a concern for some 2020’s. Perhaps these grapes were picked earlier than normal to avoid the smoke, thus the 13.9% or perhaps Pedroncelli just has a favorable location.
We moved downstairs to look for an older, similar Pedroncelli Cab. I quickly found the 2016 Wisdom, Dry Creek Valley Cabernet (14.2 ABV). We moved back upstairs and I popped the cork on that one. The nose and taste was very similar, but it had resolved nicely and was “smoother”, according to the new guys.
This morning I took a swig (for science) and the 007 has further evolved toward the smoothness of the 2016.
In summary; this wine might be perfect for old-world or Pedroncelli lovers. It appears to be well-made, and will last quite a while in the cellar, in fact, it might be made for some cellaring. We didn’t drink ours with food, but it might be excellent with a nice chunk of meat. I suspect that since Pedroncelli has been around for a long time they can sell us superior wines at amazingly good prices, and I suspect that this offering is no different.
@FritzCat things you don’t expect to see in a lab rat report: “porn site data security guy”
@FritzCat @TimW Right? I was thinking…a new lawyer, a new dentist and a porn site data security guy walk into a bar…
@FritzCat thank you for ratting
@FritzCat Two days later. The 007 is still going strong. It tastes very similar to the 2016 on Pop-N-Pour. This wine will last a decade or more in your cellar. The 2016, on the other hand, has started to go flat. Drink up.
Well producer website references lots of zin reviews, this one made the rounds for sure.
Let’s leadoff with Mr. Wilfred:
90 Points. The 2020 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel is rich yet lifted on the palate. This wine offers aromas and flavors of fresh tilled dirt, brambleberries, earth, and tar. Enjoy it with dry-rubbed, grilled pork ribs. (Tasted: February 17, 2023
Spectator (zin):
90 Points. A gutsy red that’s easy to drink, with lively blackberry, licorice and savory peppercorn flavors that build toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2030. 6,500 cases made. TF
The above mentioned Tasting Panel thoughts (zin):
93 Points. A hearty and ripe yet elegant style with rich notes of mocha, a slathering of blackberry reduction and a creamy licorice finish. March/April 2023
RWS offered the zin as part of a mixed deal Dec '22:
The 2020 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel opens with a wonderful aroma of blackberry, plum, baking spice, licorice and touches of vanilla that all combine seamlessly. Taking a sip reveals a smooth, lovely, medium to full-bodied wine filled with juicy dark berry fruit, more wonderfully integrated spice, vanilla and a little cola. It’s flavorful but not over the top and quite well-balanced. It tastes similar to the 2019 vintage we previously offered although it has a bit more oak influence at this point, which is likely just because it is younger. Black pepper and a touch of smoke lead into the dry, very long finish of this fantastic wine. And while it’s drinking amazingly well now (and maybe even slightly better on day 2), we know from experience that the wines from Pedroncelli get even better with age so don’t be afraid to stock up.
On to the Block 007:
Beverage Tasting Institute. 90 Points. Gold Medal. Exceptional. Garnet black color. Aromas and flavors of sweaty horse blanket and polished leather saddle, black cherry, chocolate powder, and irish breakfast tea with a round, crisp, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, interesting, medium-long finish with accents of black cherry cranberry juice, cedar and aged tobacco, chocolate covered acai, and dry herbal tea with medium tannins and a suggestion of oak flavor. A depth of fruit with some savory and earthy tones that would accompany a roast and root vegetables splendidly. RS .2% 2/7/23
BTI on the Three Vineyards:
93 Points. Gold Medal. Exceptional. Violet color. Aromas and flavors of brandied cherries and black plum, polished leather, 70% dark chocolate, and coconut cream with a round, crisp, dry medium-to-full body and a long finish revealing notes of black cherry and blood orange, leather, cedar, and grilled peppers, coconut, coffee, and plum sauce, and portobello mushrooms. Vibrant Cabernet with an excellent use of blending to highlight savory herbal tones and chocolate covered coconut undercurrents. RS .2% 2/7/23
40 seconds of producer marketing Three Vineyards :
fwiw
@kaolis “Sweaty horse blanket”, that’s a new one on me.
2020 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
On Friday, an unannounced box was sitting on the receiving label at the office which was immediately recognized as a bottle of wine from Casemates. THe UPS label indicated it was a 2020 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel. Hmm, I would almost be able to write a rat report on that without even opening the bottle as I have enjoyed many bottles of Mother Clone.
I opened the bottle Saturday afternoon after a busy day in the yard with a large pile of mulch to move and spread. On the pop the bottle poured a dark purple with familiar aromas of spices, dark fruits, and yes, heat on the nose. An initial sip was also familiar with plum, dark red berries the vanilla and spices and some barrel character that presented as some smokiness. To be clear this was not smoke taint smokieness, but toasted barrel notes. I reached for the label and saw the 15.9% alcohol - the heat wasn’t my imagination. I looked over the past 2 vintages and saw 2019 at 15.5% and 2018 (my favorite vintage) at 14.8%. The alcohol was obvious at first but faded into the background after the first glass. Food accompaniment was a simple salad and pepperoni pizza which paired well, I mean a Zin, right?
Second evening the alcohol has blown off quite a bit, the barrel character smokiness was fully gone and the dark berry character was fully in the front. I left one last glass for this evening, sorry up to early for a pre-dawn taste. As with most Pedroncelli’s, this will surely improve with some rest in the cellar, but with a little air it is enjoyable now. With the mix in this offer, the deal is solid, not the blow out pricing we have had in the past, but costs have risen so it is a recommended buy.
Poorly constructed pic for evidence
@pjmartin thank you for the rattage
@pjmartin If it wasn’t for the SIWBM…
@pjmartin The last small pour was the best yet, reinforcing my comfort with the bottles I already have in the basement. Aromas are brighter, alcohol heat is reduced and the taste is more integrated. Thank you CaseMates and Pedroncelli for the rat bottle.
A suggestion on timing: I’d would like to see a friends white/rose mixed case offered in the spring and have this offered in the fall FWIW
@sosptuba gotta get a few bbq wines too;)
@sosptuba I suspect that the timing is reflected in the price - think seasonal overstocks.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignons & Zinfandel - $15 = 6.82%
ageless-weedy-caption
All hail the Boss Monster!
I’ve had previous vintages of both cabs, and they are great but get even better if you lay them down for 4+ years.
In for 2. Got a case from the case club on the way as well. Never too much Pedroncelli in the cellar…
Can’t believe I missed this! Anyone in the Atlanta area a looking to split a case they ordered? I’m in the wine club and have a case on the way, but these prices are much lower.