This is loaded with cracked pepper flavors, plus lively cherry and grilled herb notes that finish with polished tannins. Drink now through 2029. 1,080 cases made. Wine Spectator, 92 points

WINE INFORMATION

John Buehler, Sr. and his son, John, began the renovation of the property that would become Buehler Vineyards in 1971. Located six miles east of St. Helena and nestled in the mountains above Conn Valley, Buehler Vineyards encompasses some 300 acres of Napa Valley hillside terrain. After a quarter of a century of growing grapes and over 20 years of winemaking from those vines, their focus remains on varietals that are best suited to this site: Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

Grapes come exclusively from low-yielding estate vineyards which have been dry-farmed for over 31 years. The 4.5 acre estate block consists of mature forty-five year-old vines. Interspersed among the head-trained vines are a handful of Petite Sirah vines representing perhaps 5% of the total vines in this block. A traditional field companion to Zinfandel in pre-prohibition California vineyards, Petite Sirah contributes pepper, color, and tannin structure to the wine.

This Zinfandel was aged for 12 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, 20% of which were new.

Charcuterie, Cheese, Grilled preparations, Hearty stew, Mexican, Mushrooms, Pizza, Pork, Red Meat, Roasted Root Vegetables, Sausage, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce, Tomato Sauce