44% ZINFANDEL, 35% SYRAH, 21% CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Peter Nixon, proprietor of Banknote Wine Company in Napa Valley, has discovered what Dave Phinney of Orin Swift Prisoner fame and many Zinfandel Fans have known for some time. While Zinfandel on its own can be quite lovely, if you blend it with complementary varietals it is possible to elevate it to something greater. That's precisely what he has done with his 2007 The Vault. The Vault is sourced from some of the best vineyards in Napa Valley and is made from Zinfandel with support from Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It features beautifully integrated aromas of plums with hints of mocha, mulling spices and cracked pepper that lead to flavors black fruits with hints of chocolate and espresso ably supported by real yet silky tannins. Its quite a mouthful! Just shy of 800 cases were produced so it won't be available for long. Bottles are individually numbered and there are twelve different labels, each one featuring a different banknote from the 19th century. I scored bottle #724 92 points. Feel free to post your bottle numbers and scores on our blog at b21blog.com. - Shawn Reynolds, B-21 Wine Company
92 points - Steve Rayman, 91 points - Shawn Reynolds; 90 points - Rhett Beiletti
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