Mara Wine Group

Charles Mara, a New York wine merchant, has begun to make wine in California. With this Zinfandel, the Mara label should become one well worth paying attention to. And by using fruit from the 100-year-old-plus vines of the underrated Luvisi Ranch in Calistoga, notice too will be taken, when that AVA gets approval any day now.

The wine, from Luvisi’s dry-farmed vineyard, was made by winemaker Derek Irwin at Viansa in the Sonoma side of the Carneros district. The wine is big, juicy and inky, but everything being equal, it isn’t ready to drink. Come back to it in five years and then consume it over the next dozen years. The fruit is fabulous but more important, the tannins and acidity will keep it vibrant. Unfortunately, there were less than 400 cases produced. The price is $35.

Reviewed March 1, 2006 by Alan Goldfarb.