Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California
15.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-06-26
Medium deep and dark cherry red. Almost explosive smell of a big fruit basket consisting of blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and even more. In addition a touch of dark chocolate. The smell consistency is very thick and fleshy. On the palate extremely velvety paired with a little bit acidity which makes the wine even better. Then the fruit notes take over and remain infinitely. Finally far, far at the end certain liqueur-like sweetness. A fascinating wine - and one of the best (young) Zins I drunk so far.
Even if this Zin (blended with Petite Sirah) is from Dry Creek Valley, the Michael David Winery is located in Lodi in the Central Valley - an area which I didn't visit so far. The reason for this is the distance from Sonoma and Napa. Nearly an hour to drive from this area prevented until now a tasting tour. This I will change when I will visit the valleys again in fall. My very good friend Brian tells me all the time that I have to go over there, and this wine is a very good recommendation.
However you should be careful. This is definitely not a main stream wine and some wine purists will claim that it is too fat and too jammy - even too "full-bodied". I see that differently. With this nice acidness the Rage has some dark, mystical characteristics. Definitely not the wine for every day, but for the very special moments - for instance if you are in "rage" and want to come down. Food? Duck with cranberry sauce! How long? No idea! I bought this bottle half a year ago in a nice wine shop named Holiday Wine Cellar (http://www.holidaywinecellar.com/) north of San Diego. There they have a tasting station similar (but smaller) to the one at Hedonsim where for a reasonable price all-day tasting is possible. I tasted the "Rage" and bought immediately one bottle for taking home. Now the wine is even better. I would say in the current condition the wine will remain another three years. After that? Let's see.