Ravenswood – 175
Saturday, October 8th, 2005
Over a dozen years ago, when I was a wine neophyte, Ravenswood was one of the first wineries I ever visited. For me, the initial draw was the logo. I was heavily involved in the Renaissance Faire and the Celtic triskelion design of three black ravens twisted in on themselves was akin to many Irish-themed tattoos which was as prevalent in the 80s as tribal tattoos are now. Logo aside, there was also a draw to a winery producing a number of vineyard-specific Zinfandels with a nifty catch phrase, No Wimpy Wines. Zinfandel was the thrust of the business and a few other varietals were made. If memory serves, their production level was in the 20,000 to 30,000 case range…
A lot has changed for Ravenswood. Their case production now tops one million and the company is now owned by one of the largest international wine conglomerates on the planet, Constellation Brands. Fortunately, the brainchild and original winemaker behind Ravenswood, Joel Peterson, is still at the helm of the winemaking team.
The tasting room is practically exactly the same today as it was when I visited it 15 years ago. The staff is gregarious and helpful and while I believe that are a few misses in some of the overall line up of their production, there is still some fabulous wines to be had. There are a variety of tasting levels that will allow each visitor to explore their own personal interests.
2002 Icon – 87% Syrah, 9% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre. A really nice daily drinker for the price point. Juicy aroma of meat, black pepper, and dark purple fruit. Brambleberry flavors coat the mouth with a slightly sweet finish of spice. $20.00
2003 Big River Zinfandel, Alexander Valley – 1,500 cases made. Massive fruit bomb in a medium-bodied Zin. Ruby port aromas of concentrated purple fruit; plum, berries, and currants. Full, rich mouth entry that is smooth and balanced. $32.00
2002 Sangiacomo Merlot – 500 cases made. Noticeable green bell pepper and minerals in the nose. Bright cherry flavors that deepens to show a more herbal mid-palate. The finish paled from the entry. $27.50
2001 Petite Sirah, Sonoma – 400 cases made. Dark plummy bouquet with a layer of lighter blueberry tone. Rich entry expanding to show black pepper, cocoa, and a spicy dark plum finish.
Ravenswood ~
18701 Gehricke Road ~ Sonoma ~ CA ~ 95476 ~ 707-933-2332