Second Leaf

Dry Creek Valley has to be one of my favorite wine regions in California and David Coffaro Estate Vineyard has become one of my favorite wineries in that area. If you prefer layers of rich red and dark fruits in wines without sacrificing complexity and balance, the wines from Coffaro are worth checking out.

Although the winery does produce fantastic varietal releases such as Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, blending is truly their specialty. The 2004 Block 4 Red Wine, a field blend of at least 6 different varieties from Coffaro’s Block 4 vineyard, is a beautiful example of what’s possible when multiple grapes are grown, picked, fermented, aged, and bottled together. A true team effort, the players in this wine include Zinfandel (50%), Petite Sirah (25%), Peloursin (5%), Syrah (5%), Carignan (5%), and 10% “other varieties”!

This wine is dark ruby in color with a nose that explodes with rich scents of raspberries, blackberries, and black cherries mixed with traces of black pepper, cloves, and cedar. Although full bodied, soft, and round on the palate, this wine is not sweet. The tannins are substantial but play a supporting role and keep the exuberant fruit in this wine in-check. A fruit cobbler in a glass, this wine does just fine on its own but also begs to be paired with cheeses or grilled meats.