Michael McCay, owner of McCay Cellars, has a simple goal: to make wine with a sense of presence and character that expresses the trueness of the vineyard. Michael is a relative newcomer to Lodi. He has only farmed there for 35 years. He came to Lodi in the early 1980s, planted a vineyard, started making wine in 1994, and launched McCay Cellars in 2007.
The reviews below are based on samples provided by the winery.
- 2011 McCay Cellars Zinfandel Jupiter – Light ruby red in color. 14.8% ABV. Red fruits, licorice, pepper and flowers on the nose. Light in body and somewhat tart with crisp acidity. Raspberry compote, strawberries, currants and cranberries on the palate. Subtle but ever present tannins. Polished, with a long finish. Lots to like here. Drink over the next 2-3 years. $28 at the winery. My rating: 91 points.
- 2011 McCay Cellars Zinfandel Equity – Deep purple in color. 14.4% ABV. Black fruits, plums and pepper on the nose. Medium body with just the right amount of acidity. Blackberries, black cherries, vanilla, figs and pepper on the palate. Should be a great food wine. Think pizza or barbecue. Ready to drink. $28 at the winery. My rating: 90 points.
- 2011 McCay Cellars Zinfandel Trulux – Dark crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. From 80 year old vines on the west side of the Lodi AVA. Bright red fruits, vanilla and pepper on the nose. Rich, lush and supremely concentrated. Jammy on the palate with raspberries, marionberries, plums and a dark cocoa. The finish is long and decadent. $32 at the winery. My rating: 92 points.
McCay Cellars is located on the North side of Lodi, CA. Lodi is approximately 30 miles south of Sacramento off of CA-99 freeway. The tasting room is open Thursday thru Monday from 11am to 5pm. Yours truly hopes to visit this historic California wine region in the not to distant future.
The Lodi region holds just a ton of promise for the Zinfandel grape. I for one will be doing more research here in the year to come.
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