In 1980, The Brown Family acquired land in the hills east of Rutherford in the Napa Valley. In 1995 they decided to make wine under their own label. The following year the first vintage of Zinfandel was produced and subsequently they have added Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Petite Sirah to their lineup. First and foremost though Brown Estate is known for their exceptional array of Zinfandels.
Brown Zinfandel is near and dear to me. I’ve had all the Estate Zinfandels from the ’97 vintage forward, and we served the ’99 Zin at our rehearsal dinner at PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn in 2000.
The wine is a dark garnet in color. 15.5% ABV. Cherries, strawberries and raspberries on the nose. Sweet, lush, jammy and complex but not overpowering. Brown sugar, brambly fruits and the faintest hint of pepper on the palate. The sweetness of the fruit on this wine is something to behold. The finish is long and sweet.
My rating: 92 points
The ’11 vintage will be released early next year. The ’10 vintage is still available in magnum at the winery. Highly recommended.
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