2008 Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley
Tastes of strawberry and raspberry fruits with hints of vanilla and caramel.

2008 Zinfandel

Dry Creek Valley

The 2008 Dry Creek Zinfandel is the 11th vintage for Christopher Creek Winery. We produced this wine from grapes grown at two vineyards with vines of varying ages, each contributing their own characteristics, and by fermenting the grapes in small open top tanks with 2 punch downs daily to every “pump over.”

After 2 weeks, the wine was transferred to a mixture of 65% American Oak and 35% French Oak Barrels (25% of the barrels were new oak). Classical Dry Creek Zin in style, the wine exhibits a medium-dark ruby hue, with raspberry fruit, hints of vanilla and caramel, black pepper, clove, and cherry pie with a juicy mouth feel, a rich mid pallet and a long spicy finish that lingers.

While still quite young, this intense, perfectly balanced and bright wine is remarkably approachable with medium tannins and an aging potential of about 3-4 years. The wine pairs wonderfully with risotto, pasta, turkey, duck, lamb or chicken.

Harvested September 5th and 8th, 2008
Released January 2010
3.0 tons/acre
Aged in French and American oak barrels
355 cases produced

Awards

Chairman's Award, Unanimous Gold—Riverside International Wine Competition, May 2010
Silver Medal—Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, April 2010
Silver Medal—North of the Gate Wine Competition

2007 Vintage

Gold Medal—Tasters Guild, April 2009
Silver Medal—Jerry Mead's New World Wine Competition, March 2009
Silver Medal—Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, April 2009

2006 Vintage

Silver Medal—Jerry Mead's New World Wine Competition, March 2008

2005 Vintage

Silver Medal—Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, April 2007
Silver Medal—Tasters Guild International, April 2007
Silver Medal—North of the Gate, June 2007

2004 Vintage

Silver Medal—Tasters Guild International, May 2006
Silver Medal—San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, January 2006

2003 Vintage

Gold Medal—Tasters Guild International, May 2005

2002 Vintage

Long Beach Grand Cru, August 2004
Chairman's Award (Best of Class)—Riverside International Wine Competition, April 2004
Gold Medal—Grand Harvest Awards, February 2004
Gold Medal—Jerry Mead's New World International Wine Competition, February 2004
Silver Medal—Florida State Fair Wine Competition, February 2004
Silver Medal—San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, January 2004
Silver Medal—California State Fair, June 2004

2001 Vintage

Gold Medal—San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, February 2003
San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Wines list, December 2003
Silver Medal—Florida State Fair Wine Competition, February 2003
Silver Medal—West Coast Wine Competition, April 2003
Silver Medal—Tasters Guild International, May 2003
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Selections, August 28, 2003. Comments: “Excellent, layered aromas of lavender, chocolate, raspberry and herb with touches of earth and oak; cherry, raspberry, orange flavors; soft tannins, nicely balanced.”

2000 Vintage

Gold Medal—Grand Harvest Awards, 2002
5 Silver Medals

1999 Vintage

Best of Class—New World International Wine Competition
Gold Medal—Orange County Fair

1998 Vintage

“Best Red Wine"—California North Coast Wine Competition (out of 682 wines)