Zinfandel of the Month is a regular feature on Zinfandel Chronicles. Keep in mind that although the Zinfandel of the Month might be an older bottle, the current vintage will be one you can find at retail or via the mailing list.
The January Zinfandel of the Month is the 2016 Hartford Family Winery Zinfandel Russian River Valley Old Vine.
Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1994 as a result of Don and Jennifer Hartford’s appreciation for the wines, the people, and the unique vineyards near their Russian River Valley home. Located in the Sonoma County town of Forestville, the winery is about 15 miles from the cool Pacific Coast. Jeff Stewart is the Hartford Family Winemaker.
I chose this particular bottle as Hartford has really impressed me in recent years with this bottling and the 2017 is soon to be released in the next month or so. I will certainly be a buyer.
Opaque purple in color. 15.5% ABV. Pretty nose of brambly red fruits, baking spices and flowers. Full bodied with mouth watering acidity. Young and fresh bursting with bright fruits. Raspberry, cherry, kirsch and earth on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. This wine deftly walks the line between Claret style and a more modern richer Zinfandel. Really delicious with room for improvement with a few years in the cellar. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
My rating: 92 points.
As I mentioned above the ’17 version should be available soon and recent vintages have cost right around $42 per bottle. Happy hunting!
YES! Awesome note as usual Tom on a wine I absolutely loved as well. Hartford is producing some incredible zins, and every time I open one I wonder why I dont drink them more often. My note below from this past May – great minds ;)
‘Wow, just an awesome wine. Beautifully perfumed nose of violets/florals and blueberries on the nose, and an incredible mix of blue fruits, raspberries, and baking spice on the palate. What’s most impressive about the wine is how it walks a perfect line between fruit and structure, creating an airy but defined mouthfeel that is just pure pleasure to drink. I honestly think that Hartford has quietly crept into the top 3 or 4 of my favorite zin producers. A winery to seriously seek out for any zin-fan, or wine-lover in general.’
I saw your note on CT after I wrote mine. Uncanny how close they are. Looking to buy the ‘17 as soon as I see it.