Adventurous wine tasters can travel from the city into a land that is often called "Gold County" but the gold today comes by the glass.
The "Passport" wine tour is well know to Sierra Foothill wine aficionados, but the passport is never required to enjoy wines that rival the best of the Napa Valley or even France. As one drives into the "Fair Play" appellation of El Dorado county, it would be hard to distinguish the landscape and views from a trip abroad. Many of the roads lack lines as they wind through the rolling countryside with vineyards interspersed thought the vista of trees and open fields.
On
this last Saturday I left metropolitan Sacramento and headed out onto Pleasant
Valley road, past Somerset, and into Fair Play. As I enjoyed a drive in
the county, I eyed a sign at DK Cellars offering a "Vertical Tasting"
of Zinfandels. It was a drive, but that was the point, to get away from
the rush and enjoy some quality time. And a vertical tasting of some of
the finest Zins while in the countryside sitting in the vineyards on a misty
spring morning is exactly what I had in mind as quality time.
The vertical tasting of Zins at DK Cellars was a range of vintages from 2000 through 2006. The 2005 had just been released and the 2006 was yet to be released, but was available for tasting. When I arrived it was quite and the "K" of DK, Kim Pratt, was pouring. I stepped to the side bar and immediately began my adventure through the years of local Zinfandels.
The 2000 Sierra Foothills Zin burst with blackberry and clover then transitioned into a lingering spicy pepper flavor. This was a full bodied wine with moderate tannins and lively acidity in the classic foothill style.
The
2001 Sierra Foothills Zin was full bodied with deep fruity layers of Plum,
Berries, and spice with firm tannins and a peppery finish. An Ideal
compliment to grilled pork or beef, when not simply enjoyed by the glass.
The 2002 Fair Play Herbert Vineyard Zin was sold out, but still available for tasting. This was a full bodied wine, balanced with fruity blackberry aromas and flavors and a tamarillo mid-palate, and finishing with spice, pepper, and pleasant tannins.
The 2003 Fair Play Herbert Vineyard Zin was also sold out, but still available for tasting. This was a party in your mouth, balanced with fruity blackberry aromas and flavors and a pleasant finish.
The 2004 Fair Play Herbert Vineyard Zin was a bouncy full bodied wine balanced with blackberry aromas and flavors and a firm tannin finish.
The 2005 Herbert Vineyard Reserve Zin was a Peppery, Full bodied wine with bright blackberry and plum flavors all flowing over a peppery base leading to a linering fininsh of fine grained tannins.
The
2006 Sierra Foothills Zin (futures) is a full bodied wine with deep fruity
layers of cherry and a hint of sweetness. This classic Sierra Foothill
style wine is scheduled for release in Aug/Sept. of 2008.
By
the time I had finished my trip through Zin time, the room was filled with happy
people and a warm atmosphere of friendly camaraderie. And the
"D", Dave Pratt, of DK Cellars had arrived to help fill glasses and
share thoughts. 
I noticed a tile on the wall and it seemed
prophetic. Dave explained how the vineyard's location near the deep, granite
faced canyons of the Consumes river provided a dramatic temperature shift from
day to night. This shift of 38-40 degrees every day accounted for much of
the quality of the grapes. I agreed, but suspected that the time and love
that he put into the grape vines and the winemaking also had something to do with quality also. The many awards and ribbons around the room attested to
that.
If you need some time to re-charge your soul, or want to taste the wines as the mature to select your Futures, I recommend that you visit DK Cellars website, or better yet, get in your car and take a pleasant drive in the county. No Passport required.
