The last barrel of my Paso Syrahs: the mate/counterpart/contrast to the Panamint Playa. Until a few months ago, it was so reserved that I didn’t quite know what to do with it. One of my sons pointed out that if I brought it with me, still unbottled, to Death Valley, it would sooner or later be fit only for distilling, as we’ve only planted vines but not yet dug a cave for the winery. Incidentally, only an hour ago it was almost cold, and hailing! here at Panamint.
Anyway, after on garagiste-style racking, in the garage of our old abode (abode, not adobe- did I ever mention that I made wine in New Mexico from '94 through '01? And never stopped producing in California, and consulted/slaved in Arizona on the way through? I must have been younger then) in Baja Cayucos of absurdly temperate clime, being as coastal as you can get without having some Gromit’s surfboard miss you by ten feet as you drive down the PCH, the wine almost immediately bolted up from its slumber, showing concentrated dry (dried but not sweet) late ripe red cherry, that nearly overwhelms the wood of a second-year Francois Freres barrel, and spices I will not attempt to describe. And it’s still dignified, and I believe will age well. As did William Lewis Manly, as seen on the label.
Specs
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Syrah
Appellation: Paso Robles
Alcohol: 16%
Total Acidity: 6.4 g/L
2022 Zeppelin Winery Exceptio Probat Regulam
Tasting Notes
If not a ’rule’ it is a common misperception, that single-vineyard, single-variety wines are superior to others. I think this is my farthest-flung blend, and one of my very best, I hope; a blend of art and science, perhaps like the spectrum of talents possessed by the three men pictured. One of them is likely more recognizable than the others, and I was fortunate enough to meet him. Of the others, well, one flunked first grade* and the other was smarter than Einstein** and the unpictured Bierce was and is the greatest wit in the English language. Can I go outside and play now?
Specs
Vintage: 2022
Varietals: 52% Syrah, 21% Tannat, 16% Alicante, 11% Petite Sirah
Appellation: 61% Paso Robles, 28% Sierra Foothills, 11% Lodi
Alcohol: 16.5%
Total Acidity: 6.8 g/L
2022 Zeppelin Winery Darwinian III Petite Sirah, Lodi
Tasting Notes
The grower is a very old friend (and fellow winemaker, for the last two of my now four decades of ‘experience’) and a client as well, whose efforts I am sometimes able to impair and participate in. He passed through Panamint a few weeks ago, during one of my absences, and opined that I was crazy— ”You can’t grow grapes in Death Valley! It’s 130 there!” Blah blah blah etc. I guess he didn’t notice that we have almost half a mile more altitude than Badwater, but whatever. In cool years—and yes, Lodi has them—he grows and makes some of the best Petite Sirah in California. I fiddled with some to make this Darwinian III, the most structured of my trio of PSs. It’s not aggressively tannic, just on the reserved side. I generally don’t use decanters, but if I only had one bottle I might be tempted.
Specs
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Petite Sirah
Appellation: Lodi
Alcohol: 15.9%
Total Acidity: 6.6 g/L
What’s Included
4-bottles:
2x 2022 Zeppelin Winery Manly Syrah, Paso Robles
1x 2022 Zeppelin Winery Exceptio Probat Regulam
1x 2022 Zeppelin Winery Darwinian III, Lodi Case:
3x 2022 Zeppelin Winery Exceptio Probat Regulam
3x 2022 Zeppelin Winery Darwinian III, Lodi
6x 2022 Zeppelin Winery Manly Syrah, Paso Robles
Price Comparison
Not all wines for sale on winery website, $824/case MSRP
Owners: Dave Andrews, Stillman Brown and Joe Kraman
Founded: 2003
Location: Cayucos, CA
In ancient times, long ago, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, the consulting winemaker, assistant cellar sock monkey, and rock band mis-manager Stillman Brown of Red Zeppelin infamy, and his footloose and still insufficiently silent mouthpiece and de factoid attorney GD Lewis of Jory Winery, became Zeppelin Winery, and even since then have wines that at least one of them believes are at least more than good enough to have pretty much anything on the label, excepting hallucinogenic drugs. Over the last decade, most of the wines have been from grapes grown by one of our crazier clients, in two concocted sub-appellations of west Paso Robles that split the hidden Hill of Graceland vineyard. He drives the tractor and poormouths himself, I do everything else… Sales are almost exclusively to our email list, though we make irregular appearances on Casemates.com.
Available States
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.)
Zeppelin Winery Mixed Reds - $60 = 13.33%
@deadlyapp thank you - and very likely you’ve some bottles I have none of!
(I cannot promise I won’t appear at your cellar door, with corkscrewed face and a begging expression in hand.)
The glory of rattage is upon me once again! I am your intrepid ratter for this delightful offer from Zeppelin, the Manly Syrah.
I received the wine about a week in advance, so it had some time to rest post shipping. I served it at 67 degrees, which suits it.
The nose is full of peppercorn, spice, and plums. The color is a deep garnet.
This fellow has legs for days, which matches the richness on the palate.
At first sip I feel like I have something special in hand. This Syrah is delightful. It’s rich and mildly peppery on the midpalate with flavors of plums, berries, and spice with a hint of the darkest chocolate to deepen the flavor and make it all a little darker.
It’s a very American Syrah, awesomely rich, lush and bold, with a little mystery and duskyness behind the sexy legs and spiced plum flavors. Tannins are minimal, and the acidity is minor.
This is a slow sipper, great with food - I served this with a house favorite for the gluten averse - dumplings using brazilian cheese bread instead of wrappers. The richness of the sausage and pork and the spice in the ginger really meshed well with the wine.
I happened to try this on a night home alone, and while I love sharing with my people, this was a wine I LOVED having to myself at first. It’s a wine for thinking, for pondering the mysteries of the universe (or the mysteries of Hercule Poirot). After having it to myself for a night, though, sharing it was delightful, and it was even better second day with a little more time open.
Manly Syrah was my first time trying Zeppelin wine, and I see why this is an autobuy for folks. This is a special wine, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to taste it! Thanks to Zeppelin for the offering, and to Alice for sending me this gorgeous wine.
Was very excited to receive the rattage email and the wine was delivered a week early. You can only imagine if we were excited for the email and then opened the box to find:
2022 Zeppelin Winery Exceptio Probat Regulam
We let the wine sit for two FULL days, bubbling with excitement. On Sunday we finally were able to pop and pour. Upon p-n-p the wine appeared light in the glass with nice legs. The swirl released a ton of cherry and a nice spice. First impressions were we had something very special in our hands. The first taste did not disappoint, and the cherry came through immediately with a smooth finish. The wine was telling us it needed time to open up and we accommodated.
After an hour in the decanter (like watching paint dry) we had our first pour. The cherry was still in full effect and the spice had faded. Other stone fruits had emerged in the background like a great chorus. Just a wonderful experience. We paired the wine with grilled Cornish game hens with broccoli. It paired perfectly. It did not overpower the hen but accompanied it perfectly.
We continued to finish off the bottle over the course of the evening, with every sip getting better. We are definitely in for a case. This is just a fantastic example of excellent wine making. Just wonderful.
2022 Zeppelin Winery Manly Syrah, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Specs
2022 Zeppelin Winery Exceptio Probat Regulam
Tasting Notes
Specs
2022 Zeppelin Winery Darwinian III Petite Sirah, Lodi
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not all wines for sale on winery website, $824/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
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
Tuesday, May 28
Zeppelin Winery Mixed Reds
4 bottles for $149.99 $37.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $389.99 $32.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
AutoBunnyBuy!
/giphy rural-ritzy-beam
@bunnymasseuse thankyouverymuch!
That’s pricey. Please send me one for free. I promise I’ll cherish it and stuff.
@warpedrotors Certainly, though you might better give it to an impecunious friend, on condition he drink it by himself.
Hi Swilly, thanks!!
crowded-mandatory-gazelle
/giphy monstrous-sick-cub
@evocateur hot streaker? beat on the brat? what happened???
@evocateur @ZeppelinWinery Final out of the 2016 world series.
@evocateur the winning team, I take it
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Zeppelin Winery Mixed Reds - $60 = 13.33%
That Darwinian III is a deal killer…sorry, but if it ain’t 16+ I’m not drinking…ha!
@kaolis damn . . . I knew I should have used proof instead of abv!
autobuy - even though I already have 60+ bottles of Zepp.
@deadlyapp thank you - and very likely you’ve some bottles I have none of!
(I cannot promise I won’t appear at your cellar door, with corkscrewed face and a begging expression in hand.)
@deadlyapp you’ll join the big leagues someday
@deadlyapp when Swilly does show up, he usually doesn’t drink much at all or take full advantage of a well-stacked cellar.
It’s very Jeb!
@PetiteSirah I don’t know if my wallet will agree.
@ZeppelinWinery I don’t think anyone from California truly wants to travel to Texas unless required - so low risk I think!
The glory of rattage is upon me once again! I am your intrepid ratter for this delightful offer from Zeppelin, the Manly Syrah.
I received the wine about a week in advance, so it had some time to rest post shipping. I served it at 67 degrees, which suits it.
The nose is full of peppercorn, spice, and plums. The color is a deep garnet.
This fellow has legs for days, which matches the richness on the palate.
At first sip I feel like I have something special in hand. This Syrah is delightful. It’s rich and mildly peppery on the midpalate with flavors of plums, berries, and spice with a hint of the darkest chocolate to deepen the flavor and make it all a little darker.
It’s a very American Syrah, awesomely rich, lush and bold, with a little mystery and duskyness behind the sexy legs and spiced plum flavors. Tannins are minimal, and the acidity is minor.
This is a slow sipper, great with food - I served this with a house favorite for the gluten averse - dumplings using brazilian cheese bread instead of wrappers. The richness of the sausage and pork and the spice in the ginger really meshed well with the wine.
I happened to try this on a night home alone, and while I love sharing with my people, this was a wine I LOVED having to myself at first. It’s a wine for thinking, for pondering the mysteries of the universe (or the mysteries of Hercule Poirot). After having it to myself for a night, though, sharing it was delightful, and it was even better second day with a little more time open.
Manly Syrah was my first time trying Zeppelin wine, and I see why this is an autobuy for folks. This is a special wine, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to taste it! Thanks to Zeppelin for the offering, and to Alice for sending me this gorgeous wine.
But would you choose Manly Syrah over a bear?
Sorrynotsorry.
@jtallant I ALMOST SAID THIS IN THE REVIEW. And yes. I’d choose this Man(ly) over a bear for sure.
@erisire I am not worthy!
(But I’m glad the wine was.)
@erisire Thanks for the rattage
I’ve loved every Zeppelin (even the Hindenberg), how can I not go in for at least one set?
Absolutely loved the last few Zeppelin wines we tried, in for a case!
/giphy gray-jolly-floor
of course I have to buy this…
wonder if there are any white zeppelin wines coming soon… the colossus viognier was spectacular
Was very excited to receive the rattage email and the wine was delivered a week early. You can only imagine if we were excited for the email and then opened the box to find:
2022 Zeppelin Winery Exceptio Probat Regulam
We let the wine sit for two FULL days, bubbling with excitement. On Sunday we finally were able to pop and pour. Upon p-n-p the wine appeared light in the glass with nice legs. The swirl released a ton of cherry and a nice spice. First impressions were we had something very special in our hands. The first taste did not disappoint, and the cherry came through immediately with a smooth finish. The wine was telling us it needed time to open up and we accommodated.
After an hour in the decanter (like watching paint dry) we had our first pour. The cherry was still in full effect and the spice had faded. Other stone fruits had emerged in the background like a great chorus. Just a wonderful experience. We paired the wine with grilled Cornish game hens with broccoli. It paired perfectly. It did not overpower the hen but accompanied it perfectly.
We continued to finish off the bottle over the course of the evening, with every sip getting better. We are definitely in for a case. This is just a fantastic example of excellent wine making. Just wonderful.
huge missed opportunity for not picking me to labrat the PS.
Swilly = insta buy
I missed the last Zeppelin offering. Not missing this one! In for a case!
On my gosh, I think I got one of the last packs. Went on twice. One for me and one for my neighbor!!
That is going really really fast!!! Going, going … Gone! Nite nite people
Darn. Should have checked sooner.
Now that was fast, just barely 12 hours.
Time to be bored the rest of the day
@rjquillin better sip something
Any chance of more cases? That sold out too fast!
Of all the days to be camping with zero wireless coverage…
Hopefully we see another offering before the year is out!
@ZeppelinWinery just saying!
For anyone trying to add these to CT and not finding them, I created new wines.
Darwinian III : https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5010495
Manly : https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5010502
Exceptio : https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5010509