Tasting Notes
Please note this is a one-bottle gift pack (price includes postage & packaging). I have both the 2011 and the 2013 vintages available.
The story
This winery has been owned by Francis Ford Coppola since 1975 - Edizione Pennino was a music publishing company started in the USA by his maternal grandfather, Francesco Pennino. The bottle bears the company’s logo in its original form and each vintage bottling has one of Pennino’s song titles imprinted on the cork.
The wine
Zinfandel is considered a Californian speciality but it was fairly recently discovered that it is in fact the Italian grape, Primitivo. Added to the Zinfandel in this instance is a splash of Petite Syrah which helps with the structure. This wine is a beautiful deep ruby red colour. On the nose black fruit flavours dominate with a hint of raisins; the flavours are complex - blackberries, blackcurrants and ripe black cherries, hints of cranberry, red plums and chocolate, a touch of creamy vanilla, pepper and spices such as cinnamon and cloves... The flavours keep on coming long after you have swallowed this wine.
This full-bodied wine combines freshness with a round texture and soft tannins. Though the ABV is 14.8%, it is only noticeable as a little warmth in the wine because the alcohol is well integrated with complex and concentrated fruit flavours and a refreshing acidity; this is a well-balanced wine. You might expect a Californian Zinfandel to fall into the Rich Spicy Reds category but because it is so elegant, it is classified as a Smooth Elegant Red. It really is a class act.
Food Pairing
This wine is very food friendly and will particularly suit steak, barbecued meat including ribs, venison, roast chicken and spicy dishes - hot sauces such as Arrabbiata, spicy Asian and Mexican dishes - and rich sauces such as Bolognaise
Producer's Notes
"Round on the palate with soft tannins, this year’s rendition of Pennino Zinfandel is fresh and aromatic. Beautiful notes of red and black berries mingle with sweet baking spices of vanilla, clove and cinnamon. Sweet, jammy fruit character and nuances of raspberries, red plums, and blackberries create a luscious flavor array. This year’s Pennino is more restrained than vintages past, but the wine demonstrates power, complexity and a fragrant finish without any one flavor being too overwhelming."
Awards
91 points Wine Spectator Jun 2014
“An old-school Zin, with a sense of style and place, this offers bold licorice and black cherry aromas and zesty, layered flavors of plum, soy and cracked black pepper. Drink now through 2020.”
