From the back label: "...1999 was terrific vintage year. The fruit came in at an astounding 26 brix: cropped at under 2 tons per acre. The resulting wine is very intense. Beware, this wine is not for the faint of palate!"

Lush magenta in color. Intense nose of marionberry, blackberry cobbler, fresh herbs, and chalk. Surprisingly fairly smooth in texture. Not as fruit forward as CA zins, but the fruit flavor is substantial. A pleasant sweetness still remains. As for the finish, the wine does get chewy with fine tannins. At 15.6%, the warmth is quite satisfying, makes you want to roll up your sleeves and unbutton the top button on your shirt. A wonderful treat!

This wine is made from the oldest vines in the northwest. The vineyard is on the Columbia River Gorge near The Dalles. I tasted this with Peter Rosback a year and a half ago, though a different vintage. I agree with your assessment. Sineann also makes a good Port style wine from that vineyard.

Am planning on opening an 01 this weekend...looking forward to it