Wine Recommendation
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Wine Recommendation

Wine:Bonneau Wines 2004 Zinfandel  (Shenandoah Valley (CA)

Bonneau Wines

2004 Zinfandel
(Shenandoah Valley (CA))



August and Catherine Bonneau left their native Bordeaux and settled in Schelleville, near the town of Sonoma, where they purchased a 70 acre parcel of land. What is now estate vineyards started as farmland, a dairy, and a delicatessen. Their daughter, Yvonne, planted 30 acres to Chardonnay in 1989, which is sold to top name wineries locally as well as in Napa. In 2001, her son, John Bambury and other children undertook the production of own-label wines, producing a Los Carneros Chardonnay, a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and this Zinfandel from the Shenandoah Valley appellation in Amador County. Less than 600 cases were produced of this Zinfandel.

Bright, lightly saturated ruby with garnet highlights, this viscous wine has aromas of strawberry, pear, spring blossoms, pink and green peppercorns, cinnamon, braised meats, offal, and brie cheese. Medium to full in body, it has a structured, taut entry with slightly drying tannins followed by a bold, juicy jolt of fruit with a sweet bubblegum note. The wine finishes with a hit of oak tannins. While it is a little disjointed right out of the bottle, the wine smooths out with aeration and would be delicious with St. Louis style ribs, braised and grilled oxtails, or grilled sausages.

Reviewed January 18, 2007 by Catherine Fallis.

The Wine

Winery: Bonneau Wines
Vintage: 2004
Wine: Zinfandel
Appellation: Shenandoah Valley (CA)
Grape: Zinfandel
Price: 750ml $28.00

Review Date: 1/18/2007

The Reviewer

Catherine Fallis

Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth.