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 October Zinfandel of the Month is the 2017 Frog’s Leap Zinfandel Napa Valley.
I chose this wine as the Zinfandel of the month because I had no idea Larry Turley was a co-founder at Frog’s Leap and that Spottswoode once grew Zinfandel. It is hard to overlook the cool history here (at least from a geeky Zinfandel perspective).
Frog’s Leap was founded in 1981 by John Williams and Larry Turley. The first wines were a Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel made with grapes purchased from Spottswoode. All these years later John is still the winemaker. Frog’s Leap producers a wide array of wines including Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc. Frog’s Leap is on Conn Creek Road in Rutherford in between the Silverado Trail and Highway 29.
Dark crimson in color 14.1% ABV. 82% Zinfandel, 17% Petite Sirah and 1% Carignane. Brooding nose of brambly black fruits, earth and pepper. Medium to full bodied with medium acidity. Mostly modern in style but the Petite Sirah adds an appealing rustic element. Blackberry, black cherry, plums and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and supple. Best over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 90 points.
Most of the Frog’s Leap wines are readily available at retail and certainly at the winery. The 2017 or 2018 Zinfandel can be found for $35,