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.
Purple in color. 15.3% ABV. Sublime nose of red fruits, licorice and pepper. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Perfectly balanced and vibrant. Packed with bright, juicy fruits. Cherry, raspberry liqueur, baking spices and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Hartford Family Zins have been on my radar for almost a decade now and this wine is one of their best. Drink over the next several years.
My rating: 94 points.
Hartford is on a great run with their Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel since the ’14 vintage. It is now a must buy for me every vintage. The ’21 version, at $40 or so a bottle, is readily available and worth seeking out.
Hartford is an excellent bottling… I just don’t appreciate their use of French oak on Zinfandel