2017 Ottimino Estate Zinfinity Sonoma County 750 ml

Most of you are already wise to bearded Zin-master Bill Knuttel and his Ottimino Zinfinity bottling—so fresh, forward, and gorgeously integrated, it drinks like a top coastal Pinot Noir. Our 2013 and 2014 offers were sell-out blockbusters, racking up over 500 five-star ratings and reviews from Wine Access clients—one of the highest totals in our history for any under-$25 red!

The 2017 is another barnburner of a value, delivering lush but cleansing juicy old-vine concentration from some of the finest heritage sites in Sonoma, blended to brilliant effect by a Zinfandel prodigy trained under Ravenswood’s Joel Peterson and Ridge’s Paul Draper. This is Zinfandel as it’s meant to be, packed with crushed-black-and-red-fruit preserves and finishing with sturdy Sonoma Coast backbone.

We can still remember meeting Zin legend Bill Knuttel on the Sonoma town square over a decade ago now. In the midst of a slight drizzle, we hopped in Bill’s truck and took 101N towards Healdsburg. 45 minutes later, we were shaking hands with Harold Hoskins, who farms five acres of old-vine Zinfandel set in gravelly loam soils, first planted in 1959 by the legendary Pio Biglieri.

The 2017 has Biglieri’s distinct character written all over it, showcasing the delicacy and intensity of ancient dry-farmed vines, with roots descended deep into the shallow water table. Warmer conditions than are found in the Russian River Valley lend an extra plushness born of ripeness, revealing blackberry tinged with baking spice.

Grapes from nearby Cartee Vineyard, Windsor Oaks, and Rafanelli’s plots complete the mix, adding structure and density from vineyards that are calling card sites for some of the greatest Zinfandels in California.

Blended by Bill into that irresistible counterpoint of alluring primary fruit and bramble aromas with a clean, bright, forward palate, the wine sees aging in French oak, drawing out the vanilla and sweet spices.

It’s a struggle to find a Zinfandel on the market at twice the price that matches Ottimino’s Zinfinity pound for pound in craftsmanship and complexity.