2019 Peterson Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 750 ml

Few vineyard managers know the Dry Creek Valley like Fred Peterson. A shrewd farmer, he’s helped manage Ridge Monte Bello, Stagecoach, and Mount Eden—and he’s been farming in Dry Creek Valley since 1983, long before the wine world started recognizing its excellence.

Now, Dry Creek Valley is an absolute gold mine for serious Zinfandel. The region’s hillsides, along the eponymous creek, bask in afternoon warmth, yielding juicy fruit notes in the wine. Yet flanking mountains funnel Pacific breezes and fog overnight, preserving a streak of fresh acidity.  In fact, Decanter has suggested the tiny AVA produces California’s best expressions.

Tasting this 2019, Peterson’s interpretation of the quintessential Dry Creek Valley style, it’s hard to argue. 

The wine is complex and satisfying, showing Peterson’s vast experience with the variety. Blackberry and spiced plum play out on the nose, with flourishes of cinnamon, licorice root, rosemary, and sage. The palate is plush and round, with spice notes that linger on a long finish. If you want to understand the immense appeal of Dry Creek Valley Zin, this is it. 

Fred and his son, winemaker Jamie Peterson, blended Zinfandel from four vineyards boasting different soils and microclimates. On their own, each one can (and does) stand as a single-vineyard bottling, but together, they create a delicious cross-section of Dry Creek Valley’s Zinfandel excellence. Splashes of Petite Sirah, Carignan, and Grenache round out the wine, contributing depth and complexity. 

They gave the wine 25 months of barrel aging, where its components coalesced into a seamless final product. With a few more years of age under its belt, it’s earned depth and nuance, yet remains as immediately delicious as ever.