Murphy-Goode 2006 Liar's Dice Zinfandel Is A Best Buy by Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator Magazine reports the 2007 vintage for California Zinfandel is the fourth in a series of strong harvests for the variety. What distinguishes the best of these new Zinfandels is a greater sense
of balance and focus than in vintages past, as winemakers are achieving
complexity and richness without overripe fruit, high alcohol levels or
harsh tannins. There's no doubt that the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons
played a significant role in this rising quality.
Value Zinfandels abound on retail shelves, but you will need to shop carefully because many lack distinctive character. One of the best you'll find is the Buehler Napa Valley 2007 (90, $19), an elegant but complex wine, with juicy plum and spicy cinnamon flavors. Similar style versions include the Quivira Dry Creek Valley 2006 (89, $20), which is briary but well-balanced, and the Murphy-Goode Sonoma County Liar's Dice 2006 (89, $21), a vibrant and supple red that delivers black cherry and toasty vanilla notes. Both are worth searching out.
For a more expensive option, consider the 2006 Zinfandels from Turley by one of my favorite winemakers in Napa. The winery's celebrated Zinfandels of the mid-1990s were rich, ripe and powerful reds, but in certain ways the 2006 wines are better. They are more balanced and refined, while retaining the earlier wines' depth and richness.
A good example is the Turley Napa Valley Hayne Vineyard 2006 (92 points, $75), which is bold and well-structured yet remarkably supple. "We use a lot less new oak," winemaker Ehren Jordan says. "And we've gotten heavily involved in farming. We own or lease more of our vineyards—about 80 percent of our grapes—and it has made a big difference."
