Highlands! One of our most popular BIG HIT names of yesteryear is back with a riddle…

What’s between Opus One and Silver Oak?

THIS! A historic Zinfandel vineyard named Hoxsey, aka. Pelissa that you’ll remember from a Ghost Block we featured last year. So, if either of those legends ever grew Zinfandel, it would not be far from this.

Here’s a recap of what makes Highlands extraordinary -Dave Cofran and Paul Segas arrived at this partnership via golden career paths. Back when Cofran was at UC Davis, with classmates like Nils Venge of Saddleback, Justin Meyer of Silver Oak, and Ric Forman, Segas was an executive at IBM daydreaming of Napa Valley. Dave went on to steer the ship at Silver Oak, while Paul invested in vineyards that were coveted by Mondavi, Montelena & Phelps.

At the turn of this century, Paul started Highlands, first under the auspices of Freemark Abbey, until he offered the partnership to Dave, who had just retired from Silver Oak. Faith united them, and the two industry veterans semi-retired by hiring young talent Bradley Smith, assistant to Paul Hobbs at Laird Estate, as their winemaker. Consider this project a bridge connecting the old guard Napa of the ‘70s with evidently classic yet timeless “Back to the Future” modern winemaking!

One of the richest and most intense Zinfandels that crossed our palates as of late! The color is opaque, alternating between black and plum when the light can penetrate. The nose offers smashingly lavish aromas of toasty oak and black fruits. Extremely rich and full-bodied, but without a trace of prune or raisin, this pure, gorgeously textured wine possesses layers of black-raspberry fruit as well as copious quantities of glycerin, bolstered by ample vibrancy. It is a blockbuster-styled, compellingly rich Zinfandel to drink over the next decade, ideally with smoked meats, dry rub barbecue, or slow-cooked, gamy stews.

If you’re into Oakville OR Zinfandel, you need to grab this by the bottle. Now if you’re into Oakville AND Zinfandel, seize by the case, as wines, where two celestial bodies collide, are rare as they come!

Ready, set, go.