A new offering, the 2008 Zinfandel Lingenfelder Vineyard (96% Zinfandel and the rest Alicante Bouchet) is scheduled to be bottled unfined and unfiltered after being fermented with indigenous yeasts. It comes from a one acre parcel that Officer believes is one of the best Zinfandel terroirs in the Russian River, just off Woolsey Road. The dark ruby/purple-hued Lingenfelder Vineyard exhibits a seductive, peppery, black cherry and black currant-scented bouquet with lots of spice, earth, and southern Rhone garrigue-like notes. Deep, fleshy, and full-bodied, it will provide irresistible drinking over the next 5-7 years.

The 2008 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard has one of those “wow” aromatic profiles. Although not saturated in color (it is dark plum/garnet), it boasts a huge nose of incense, camphor, smoked meats, herbs, forest floor and jammy strawberries as well as cherries. It is a full-bodied, dry, textured, classic, old style, “packed and stacked” Zinfandel that, despite its lofty alcohol (16.6%), is not the least bit hot. This is stunning stuff from one of the great historic sites of California. Drink it over the next 10-15+ years.

Absolutely brilliant, the 2007 Zinfandel Vellutini Ranch (a new 7-acre parcel planted with the Jackass Clone) boasts a dense purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of smoked game, roasted herbs, kirsch, black raspberries, plums, and figs. Meaty, gamy, powerful, and full-bodied with extravagant fruit and depth, this is a sensational Zinfandel to drink over the next 5-7 years.