2012 Zinfandel Waterbrook Winery

Well established wineries in Washington State’s Columbia Valley produce good stuff. A couple of years ago, on our tasting trip in Yakama Valley, we found a kick-butt Old Vine Zin…. Looking forward to sampling this Horse Heaven Hills red.

Sometimes, unusual things happen with wine. I poured the winemaker’s “Icon Reserve” Zinfandel with great anticipation. Dang! The wine I tasted was a Cab Franc, not a Zin. So, something very different was happening. The best choice was allowing it the “breathe” another 4 hours. I re-corked it, returned it into the wine chiller, where it would rest overnight. Sure enough; the next day I pour a zinfandel in the glass.

The wine wasn’t a snappy Zin, but fruit-forward: enjoyable. The peppery Zinfandel taste got hidden behind big plum and dark cherry. Now to be honest with their winemaker, I ordered it in late September’s cool weather, but it was delivered on an 80° day. High heat affects wine; my guess the 80° daytime temperature changed its character.

Every aspect of this Zinfandel came though as high quality. Its taste fell short, but let’s blame that on a hot September day.