Mission Codename Stranger in Paradise
Lovers of Zinfandel, or similarly styled ripe and sexy reds…
The Guerrilla is BACK!
With - you guessed it - another BLINDINGLY explosive, chest-thumping, palate stroking Zinfandel. The small producer lives up to its namesake, as “an independent group taking part in fighting against a larger force.”
Because man, they are kicking butt and making wines that overdeliver in a huge way - especially at our price today! Normally $40. But NINETEEN bucks? Priced to move Russian River goodness!
Longstanding Ops love this producer for their opulent style. But it’s been a few years since we put one on the site.
That drought ends today.
If you don’t know Wine Guerrilla, the family-owned Forestville-based winery does one varietal only - Zinfandel. From these century-old vines to younger recently planted vineyards across Sonoma, they make a style for everyone.
Good thing they have winemaking guru John Harley at the helm here, who’s cut his teeth at Donum Estate, Brack Mountain, and currently Marietta Cellars, all boutique wineries at the top of their game.
This one comes from Paradise Lane Vineyard, a small one-acre site with 90+-year-old, head-trained, dry-farmed vines. It’s one of those too-small-to-be-famous serious heritage sites, sourced mostly for blends for popular wineries like Harvest Moon. It sits in the cooler sector of Russian River Valley, in the vicinity of other big names in Zin like Benovia and Gamba but being tiny, it flies completely under the radar.
And it’s a super crowd-pleaser. Loaded with hyper fresh red and black fruit, it’s ripe but not syrupy. Lush but not heavy. It flows with jammy raspberry, figs, ripe cherry, vanilla creme, pipe tobacco, and peppery spice. Maybe some butter toffee pecans too?! The mouthfeel is superb, just super smooth and soft on the palate with a long, dry finish. This is FOR SURE our BBQ flipping, Hot97 Summer Jamming pick for the coming months. Really, a few cases already went into our stashes here at the office.
C’mon - that price?! Now it’s your turn.
Tasting Profile
Raspberry, figs, ripe cherry, vanilla creme, tobacco
Look | Bright purple rim with a deep ruby core that’s nearly opaque, it’s a gorgeous sight! |
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Smell | Jammy raspberry, figs, ripe cherry, vanilla creme, pipe tobacco, peppery spice |
Taste | The mouthfeel is superb, loaded with hyper fresh red and black fruit, butter toffee |
Finish | Just super smooth and soft on the palate with a long, dry finish, ripe but not syrupy |
Pairing | A super crowd-pleaser, lush but not heavy, match with BBQ fare, or grilled chicken |
What the Winery Says
2018 Paradise Lane Vineyard RRV Old Vine Zinfandel
- Winemaker
- Matt Railla
- Varietal
- 100% Zinfandel
- Vintage
- 2018
- Alcohol
- 15.6%
- Appellation
- Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
- Vineyard
- Paradise Lane Vineyard
- Vine age
- 90+ years old
- Bottling date
- July 29, 2019
- Aging
- 10 months
- Barrels
- 30% new American oak
- Production
- 7 barrels