2001 Charter Oak Monte Rosso (Sonoma) Zinfandel
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Ripe, red fruit jumps from the glass, the accent is on raspberries and cranberries. A stunning integration of fruit and wood; lustful flavors. A very long and complex finish with vanilla, raspberries and minerals among the highlights. So few cases, so many thirsty mouths to feed. Only 138 cases produced.
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ilovenapa.com Rating:
92
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2001 Charter Oak Napa Valley Zinfandel
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Almost blood-red in color, with raspberries and blackberries jumping from the rim of the glass to tweak the nose. Minerals, earthy flavors, bit of cocoa, some bramble and leather, too. A very intense wine with a l-o-n-g finish. Hold to drink in two or three years - if you have any left! Almost impossible to cellar - it demands your attention NOW! Only 75 cases produced.
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ilovenapa.com Rating:
92
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2000 Charter Oak Napa Valley Zinfandel
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Fruit from St. Helena and Calistoga vineyards. 25% old vine Petite Sirah blended in for good measure, not to mention good taste. Has a Santa Rosa plum-like core flavor that runs right through the middle of this wine. Spices, ripe fruit in the mouth. Gorgeous texture, even from a barrel sample. Only 72 cases made, what a pity.
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ilovenapa.com Rating:
92
$42
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2000 Charter Oak Monte Rosso (Sonoma) Zinfandel
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Ripe, red fruit on the nose. Lots of it, jumping from the glass. Has about 5% Petite Sirah blended in to give the wine a tweak. Round in the mouth, velvety on the tongue. Despite the largeness of this wine, the grandeur, it has a finesse not associated with some of the other big Zins like Martinelli or Turley. This is really an elegant wine, more like the Rafanelli style. Only 107 cases produced.
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ilovenapa.com Rating:
93
$42
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1999 Charter Oak (a blend of Napa Valley and Monte Rosso fruit)
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Aiming to produce the best wine possible from the grapes harvested, Fanucci decided to make only one wine this vintage, a blend of fruit from Napa Valley and Sonoma's famed Monte Rosso vineyard.
"I found the alcohol too high on the Monte Rosso wine and there was still a nip of residual sugar Ñ the yeast stopped working when the wine hit 17 per cent alcohol!" explains Fanucci.
The resulting wine is still marginally hot, but it has bright berry aromas that jump from the rim of the glass; there is a ton of cinnamon, cranberry and sweet briar evident on the attack and middle palate. The finish is modest in length. Beautifully blended and well balanced, given the overabundant fruit sugars at the start.
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