Mezcolanza Zinfandel Blend

As far as I’m concerned, these School House Mescolanzas are like, the anti-Napa Zinfandel. They are just so different from anything else out there. Until they get close to 10 years from vintage, they are backward; lean, green and mean. But if one has the patience, they eventually become quite charming. For this bottle, I did not follow my own advice.

Popped and poured, consumed over four days. On Day 1, this was completely coiled and the oak seemed a bit out of balance. I finished my glass and placed the cork back in the neck of the bottle. I checked in for a small taste on Day 2 and 3. By Day 4, it had opened enough to really enjoy. The 2016 School House “Mescolanza” Zinfandel Blend pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. There appears too be some very faint signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing. Expressive of dark bramble fruits, stone minerals, and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is medium(+). This has all of the trappings for very nice expression of this wine but it’s a little young to my taste. Best after 2025 and these will drink well through 2037…and possibly longer.

So good, this is time-travel Zinfandel, just like the better producers made it in the 70s. (I don’t know how the trend got to the point where 15%+ jam monsters are the norm, but it did.) This has a nice youthful saturated color. Nose is very pure, spicy blackberry, with nose-tingly acids showing, spice, and loads of crushed stone minerality. At once lively and rich in the mouth, it’s got great, focused brambly Zin fruit and crisp—yes, crisp—acids. Bone dry. A bit of tannic structure and a nice rocky, gravelly note. So damn good. Go Bruins!

Surprisingly bright, tart fruit. Bought the vert. Excited to see older years but this is good. It’s no Ridge tho.