ZD Wines is a Napa Valley producer of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other varietals and blends. They have an estate vineyard in Rutherford, adjacent to their winery, and another in Carneros.

The following reviews are based on samples.

2017 ZD Wines Chardonnay California 92 13.5% 750ml $42

This 100% varietal Chardonnay is a blend from three cool-climate regions: Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County, Arroyo Seco in Monterey County, and the Carneros AVA, which straddles the Napa-Sonoma County line. The wine has a very attractive, perfumed nose of dried white flowers, Chai spices, and an assortment of fruits: apple, pear, and tangy peach and tropicals. The palate, creamy and rich with apple, pear, and tart peach, is dry with medium-plus body. There’s plenty of acidity to balance the fruit and it persists through the lengthy finish, as does silky, structural texture. There’s oak, but just a hint, and a little minerality too. Very drinkable on its own, but has the intensity and juiciness to work with many different foods, from grilled seafood to curried chicken salad. Drink now through 2024.

2017 ZD Wines Pinot Noir Carneros 92+ 13.5% 750ml $56

Pretty medium ruby color and an engaging nose of dried rose petal, sarsaparilla, tangy dark red cherry, grenadine, and brown spices. Effortlessly flavorful and very long on the medium-plus body palate with tangy dark red fruit, blood orange and a melange of exotic spices. The mouth-coating flavors are well balanced by acidity and very fine, silky tannins which finish with mild chalkiness. Drink now through 2027.

2015 ZD Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 93 % 750ml $230

A dark, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon loaded with very fine, soft, chalky tannins and built for aging. The aromas are blackberry, oak, and dark spice. The long palate offers more complexity: jammy black fruit, dark spice, espresso, dark toasted oak, and dry herb. A very good wine now with even better potential. I expect it will earn a higher score a few years hence when oak-derived notes move into the background. Best 2022-2032.

Previously published here about ZD Wines

ZD Wines—New Releases from a 50-year Winery

Copyright Fred Swan 2019. Photos courtesy of ZD Wines. All rights reserved.