Zinfandel
2020 Linne Calodo, Cherry Red, Central Coast 1x75cl
Blend 68% Zinfandel, 18% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre, 2% Tempranillo
Vintage production: 436 cases
Cherry Vineyard spans 2.5 acres on slopes reaching up to 40 degrees in the Willow Creek District. The... goblet-style vines are nearly 50 years old and yield just a half-ton per acre. Every trick in the book is employed to hand-pick these grapes and wheel them out safely. Nothing is easy here, and that is the point. The fruit makes it all worth it with its cherry-forward flavors, bright acidity and dry-farmed character: a fitting homage to the heritage variety of Paso Robles. Into this mix we add Syrah, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo from the Linne Calodo estate, accentuating and drawing out the best in the Cherry Vineyard Zinfandel.
£80 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £99.97 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2016 Downstream Box Set (3x75cl + 1x150cl), Paso Robles 5x75cl
Blend: 76% Zinfandel, 8% Syrah, 6% Mataró, 6% Petite Sirah, 4% Tempranillo
Production: 230 cases
Founded in 2016, Downstream Wines is the collective brainchild of Saxum Vineyards owner and... winemaker Justin Smith, the late-great oenologist Philippe Cambie, and their mutual friend, the visionary Sasha Verhage. Together, they crafted a wine that will be remembered forever as watershed moment in Paso Robles, and California as a whole.
When it comes to pushing the boundaries of greatness, their jaw-dropping Downstream is a magical wine. In the running as the greatest expression of Zinfandel ever produced, it's a peerless example of Cambie's unrivalled blending skills and Smith's rockstar winemaking. It also carries a real poignance as to honour the legacy of Cambie, following his passing in 2021, production was ended.
Cambie's work in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is legendary, none more so than his multiple 100-point scores at Clos St. Jean. He had long desired to work with Justin in Paso Robles, focusing on 'heritage' Zinfandel. They chose the old vines of the Dusi Vineyard, planted in 1945, complimenting them with a carefully selected blend of varietals from sites including Saxum's own James Berry Vineyard.
The result is a taste and style that can only come from California: rich, intense, hedonistic, with an underlying elegance and energy. It's indicative of the forward thinking and ground breaking approach that's at its strongest in Paso Robles.
Downstream is already a highly desirable and ultra-rare gem, and will be a treasured prize among collectors of California's finest wines who are lucky enough to find some.
£1,200 / Case£240 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £1,460.64 / Case, £292.13 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2017 Downstream Box Set (3x75cl + 1x150cl), Paso Robles 5x75cl
Blend: 60% Zinfandel, 15% Mourvèdre, 9% Grenache, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 2% Tannat, 1% Viognier
Production: 560 cases
Founded in 2016, Downstream Wines is the collective brainchild of Saxum... Vineyards owner and winemaker Justin Smith, the late-great oenologist Philippe Cambie, and their mutual friend, the visionary Sasha Verhage. Together, they crafted a wine that will be remembered forever as watershed moment in Paso Robles, and California as a whole.
When it comes to pushing the boundaries of greatness, their jaw-dropping Downstream is a magical wine. In the running as the greatest expression of Zinfandel ever produced, it's a peerless example of Cambie's unrivalled blending skills and Smith's rockstar winemaking. It also carries a real poignance as to honour the legacy of Cambie, following his passing in 2021, production was ended.
Cambie's work in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is legendary, none more so than his multiple 100-point scores at Clos St. Jean. He had long desired to work with Justin in Paso Robles, focusing on 'heritage' Zinfandel. They chose the old vines of the Dusi Vineyard, planted in 1945, complimenting them with a carefully selected blend of varietals from sites including Saxum's own James Berry Vineyard.
The result is a taste and style that can only come from California: rich, intense, hedonistic, with an underlying elegance and energy. It's indicative of the forward thinking and ground breaking approach that's at its strongest in Paso Robles.
Downstream is already a highly desirable and ultra-rare gem, and will be a treasured prize among collectors of California's finest wines who are lucky enough to find some.
£1,100 / Case£220 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £1,340.64 / Case, £268.13 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2018 Downstream Box Set (3x75cl + 1x150cl), Paso Robles 5x75cl
Blend: 38% Zinfandel, 30% Mataro, 16% Grenache, 6% Counoise, 6% Graciano, 3% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah
Vintage production: 600 cases
Founded in 2016, Downstream Wines is the collective brainchild of... Saxum Vineyards owner and winemaker Justin Smith, the late-great oenologist Philippe Cambie, and their mutual friend, the visionary Sasha Verhage. Together, they crafted a wine that will be remembered forever as watershed moment in Paso Robles, and California as a whole.
When it comes to pushing the boundaries of greatness, their jaw-dropping Downstream is a magical wine. In the running as the greatest expression of Zinfandel ever produced, it's a peerless example of Cambie's unrivalled blending skills and Smith's rockstar winemaking. It also carries a real poignance as to honour the legacy of Cambie, following his passing in 2021, production was ended.
Cambie's work in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is legendary, none more so than his multiple 100-point scores at Clos St. Jean. He had long desired to work with Justin in Paso Robles, focusing on 'heritage' Zinfandel. They chose the old vines of the Dusi Vineyard, planted in 1945, complimenting them with a carefully selected blend of varietals from sites including Saxum's own James Berry Vineyard.
The result is a taste and style that can only come from California: rich, intense, hedonistic, with an underlying elegance and energy. It's indicative of the forward thinking and ground breaking approach that's at its strongest in Paso Robles.
Downstream is already a highly desirable and ultra-rare gem, and will be a treasured prize among collectors of California's finest wines who are lucky enough to find some.
£1,150 / Case£230 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £1,399.86 / Case, £279.97 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2021 Mauritson Wines, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel, Rockpile 12x75cl
Blend: 95% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah
Vintage production: 1,057 cases
Straddling the ridge between the two arms of Lake Sonoma is the Rockpile AVA. One of the newest appellations in California,... Rockpile's location and history can be described in one word: dramatic!
S.P. Hallengren, great-great-great grandfather of Founder & Owner Clay Mauritson, first planted vines on the Rockpile valley floor in 1884, shipping every ounce of his wine back to Sweden. The Family's Rockpile homestead and ranch grew to 1,600 hectares by the early 1960s, when all but 280 ridgetop hectares were taken by the Army Corps of Engineers in order to develop Lake Sonoma. The vineyards shown in many of the historic family photos are now under water.
It was not until the early 1990s that the first acres of modern-era vines were planted and thrived, once it was discovered that Rockpile held great potential for ultra-premium mountain fruit.
What makes Rockpile so unique? The AVA is located at the Northwest edge of Dry Creek Valley where the two regions actually overlap. All the vineyards within the Rockpile AVA range from between 240-600m in elevation. Although Rockpile is located just 13 miles from the coast, Lake Sonoma provides an inversion layer that prevents the heavier fog that typically blankets other Northern California appellations, allowing for longer, more consistent sun exposure.
Moisture and daytime temperatures are regulated by howling coastal breezes and, in many cases, the steep slopes and rocky terrain require non-motorised vine management. Running through Mauritson's Rockpile Ridge Vineyards is the Healdsburg–Rogers Creek Fault, a dominant earthquake fault in Northern California, and you can see why the story of Rockpile is pure geo-political drama.
Four Corners Wine: "This is a seriously impressive Zinfandel from the outset. There's huge depth to this highly layered nose. A core of almost salted/cured charcuterie and dried fennel seed is wrapped in aromas of crushed black rock with a lift of fresh, energetic fruit. The palate has fantastic texture and is really well structured. it's a measured style with a great fruit profile and long finish. this a a very good, serious style of Zinfandel, refined and complex throughout." (Dec. 2022)
£530 / Case£44.17 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £680.93 / Case, £56.74 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2021 Mauritson Wines, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel, Rockpile 1x75cl
Blend: 95% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah
Vintage production: 1,057 cases
Straddling the ridge between the two arms of Lake Sonoma is the Rockpile AVA. One of the newest appellations in California,... Rockpile's location and history can be described in one word: dramatic!
S.P. Hallengren, great-great-great grandfather of Founder & Owner Clay Mauritson, first planted vines on the Rockpile valley floor in 1884, shipping every ounce of his wine back to Sweden. The Family's Rockpile homestead and ranch grew to 1,600 hectares by the early 1960s, when all but 280 ridgetop hectares were taken by the Army Corps of Engineers in order to develop Lake Sonoma. The vineyards shown in many of the historic family photos are now under water.
It was not until the early 1990s that the first acres of modern-era vines were planted and thrived, once it was discovered that Rockpile held great potential for ultra-premium mountain fruit.
What makes Rockpile so unique? The AVA is located at the Northwest edge of Dry Creek Valley where the two regions actually overlap. All the vineyards within the Rockpile AVA range from between 240-600m in elevation. Although Rockpile is located just 13 miles from the coast, Lake Sonoma provides an inversion layer that prevents the heavier fog that typically blankets other Northern California appellations, allowing for longer, more consistent sun exposure.
Moisture and daytime temperatures are regulated by howling coastal breezes and, in many cases, the steep slopes and rocky terrain require non-motorised vine management. Running through Mauritson's Rockpile Ridge Vineyards is the Healdsburg–Rogers Creek Fault, a dominant earthquake fault in Northern California, and you can see why the story of Rockpile is pure geo-political drama.
Four Corners Wine: "This is a seriously impressive Zinfandel from the outset. There's huge depth to this highly layered nose. A core of almost salted/cured charcuterie and dried fennel seed is wrapped in aromas of crushed black rock with a lift of fresh, energetic fruit. The palate has fantastic texture and is really well structured. it's a measured style with a great fruit profile and long finish. this a a very good, serious style of Zinfandel, refined and complex throughout." (Dec. 2022)
£45 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £57.74 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2017 Scherrer, Scherrer Vineyard Old & Mature Vines Zinfandel, Alexander Valley 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Zinfandel
Production: 560 cases
£34 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £44.59 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days