2023 Tin Barn Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Our Zinfandels are sourced from two areas in Sonoma County: Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley. While our Russian River Valley Zinfandel provides a fruit forward, medium-bodied experience with more balanced tannins and a velvety mouthfeel with a long, seductive finish, our Los Chamizal Vineyard Zinfandel has a deeper berry fruit quality with more tannic structure on the finish. Each of our single-vineyard Zinfandels reflects the distinct qualities of its terroir. In an effort to retain the characteristics of these two unique vineyards, the wines are hand-crafted with minimal intervention. The result: two exceptional Zinfandels.
Sprawled across the rocky mountainside terraces of the Mayacamas Mountains is Los Chamizal Vineyard in the Sonoma Valley. The complex soils here range from volcanic ash to igneous rock, and the significant sun exposure in the area creates an ideal setting for growing classic zinfandel. The result is a delectable full-bodied Zinfandel displaying cranberry fruit aromas with hints of candied violets amid a finely balanced tannin structure. Ideal for pairing with sharp cheeses, as well as burgers, grilled sausages and pork.
Los Chamizal vineyard is located in the Moon Mountain district of Sonoma County. Farmed by Peter Haywood for decades, this rocky hillside terraced vineyard nestled in the Mayacamas Mountains has produced award winning Zinfandels. This vintage features the Monte Rosso Clone of Zinfandel that showcases the elegance of the fruit.
Tin Barn Vineyards celebrates those hidden treasures that lie off the map. Our wines highlight the true character of Sonoma County. High atop the ridges of the Sonoma Coast, just off Tin Barn Road, lies a remote plot of Syrah vines. From this fog enshrouded slope, we sourced grapes for our very first wine and found inspiration for our name. That was back in 2000. In the years since, winemaker Michael Lancaster and his business partners have made a fitting home in our own “tin barn” – a warehouse in rural Sonoma that serves as both cellar space and tasting room. Here, we craft and share our award winning, single-vineyard wines that are cherished for their uncommon balance and elegance. Our tasting room offers guests a relaxed and unpretentious window into our winemaking process. Come visit us sometime!
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
The 2023 Tin Barn, Los Chamizal Moon Mountain Vinyards Zinfandel arrived on our doorstep just in time to be chilled and sampled for this offer.
I noted that there was no foil or wax coating on the natural cork. The top of the cork appeared a bit brittle, but it came out intact and a good seal had been maintained.
The bottom 2/3 of the cork were well hydrated and showed no indication of being compromised. You just want to make sure to lay this wine down to store.
At Pop-n-Pour the color was a deep plum and the wine had significant legs. To the nose the aroma was muted with notes of cherry. The first sip displayed gripping tannins, muted cherry and bramble fruit notes. This young zinfandel obviously needed some breathing room, not surprising for a 2023. We happened to be having a Persian cucumber and tomato salad with a lemon vinaigrette and a supreme pizza from our favorite family owned shop. Not surprisingly, the zinfandel did not play well with bright/crisp flavors of the salad. It did however, complement the pizza nicely.
After an hour in a glass, this wine began to open-up, but it but still felt tight. After 1 ½ - 2 hours, the Tin Barn had opened-up nicely. This is an understated, (DW said, “almost feminine”) zin. With a 15.5 abv, it is surprisingly smooth with absolutely no heat. As the wine opened-up, the notes of cherry faded and the bramble fruit (raspberry, blackberry) became prominent. There is a hint of mint and a touch of cranberry. Four hours after opening this is a very smooth lighter version of a red zin. The tannins have mellowed nicely and there are no peppery notes often found in zins. We will have to give an update during the sale day to report on the “next day” taste. In summary, this is a young red zin that will likely mature nicely. Right now, it needs 1-2 hours of breathing time (or decanting) before it opens-up enough to be enjoyable. Once it breathes, it becomes a lovely expression of zin that is less in-your-face bold than many zins while maintaining significant tannins to stand up to bold food pairings. We will certainly consider adding this Tin Barn Los Chamizal zinfandel to our cellar.
2023 Tin Barn Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$504.00/Case for 12x 2023 Tin Barn Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
Estimated Delivery
Friday, Feb 13 - Monday, Feb 16
2023 Tin Barn Vineyards Zinfandel
4 bottles for $74.99 $18.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $194.99 $16.25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Previous offer:
8/20/25
I noted that there was no foil or wax coating on the natural cork. The top of the cork appeared a bit brittle, but it came out intact and a good seal had been maintained.
The bottom 2/3 of the cork were well hydrated and showed no indication of being compromised. You just want to make sure to lay this wine down to store.
At Pop-n-Pour the color was a deep plum and the wine had significant legs. To the nose the aroma was muted with notes of cherry. The first sip displayed gripping tannins, muted cherry and bramble fruit notes. This young zinfandel obviously needed some breathing room, not surprising for a 2023. We happened to be having a Persian cucumber and tomato salad with a lemon vinaigrette and a supreme pizza from our favorite family owned shop. Not surprisingly, the zinfandel did not play well with bright/crisp flavors of the salad. It did however, complement the pizza nicely.
After an hour in a glass, this wine began to open-up, but it but still felt tight. After 1 ½ - 2 hours, the Tin Barn had opened-up nicely. This is an understated, (DW said, “almost feminine”) zin. With a 15.5 abv, it is surprisingly smooth with absolutely no heat. As the wine opened-up, the notes of cherry faded and the bramble fruit (raspberry, blackberry) became prominent. There is a hint of mint and a touch of cranberry. Four hours after opening this is a very smooth lighter version of a red zin. The tannins have mellowed nicely and there are no peppery notes often found in zins. We will have to give an update during the sale day to report on the “next day” taste. In summary, this is a young red zin that will likely mature nicely. Right now, it needs 1-2 hours of breathing time (or decanting) before it opens-up enough to be enjoyable. Once it breathes, it becomes a lovely expression of zin that is less in-your-face bold than many zins while maintaining significant tannins to stand up to bold food pairings. We will certainly consider adding this Tin Barn Los Chamizal zinfandel to our cellar.