Mill Creek Vineyards and Winery

In 1965, the Kreck family moved to southern Dry Creek Valley and planted grapes. By 1982, they had opened a tasting room, and today own their 55-acre ranch along with 8 acres of vineyards in the Alexander Valley. Seven family members, including winemaker Jeremy Kreck, are involved. They produce Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Dry Creek Valley is well-known for intense, old-vine Zinfandel, which benefits from a multitude of factors including diurnal variation, a refreshing cool-down after a hot day which serves to slow down and give a more relaxed pace to the ripening season. The area recently has tried to bring focus to its other success stories, most notably its sunshine-imbued Cabernet Sauvignons.

This wine is a great example. On the nose are decadent fruit notes of plum, cassis, and mulberry, along with those of heavily toasted oak – vanilla, hearth, caramel, and molasses. On the palate, it is rich, round, and unctuous, with bright cassis fruit contrasting with sweet oak notes. It is well-structured, with sweet fruit, then oak tannins on throughout the finish as well. Spit-roasted meats with garlic-rosemary steak fries would be just the ticket.

Reviewed February 20, 2008 by Catherine Fallis.