We now were at the part of the tasting at The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan where Mike Farmer changed hats and discussed his other winery and this was the only location to buy his wines other then at the winery. He was now doing a tasting for his two wines that he makes from ZFG Winery in Napa Valley. The official name is “Zen From Grapes,” but it has a more colorful “Zero Fs Given” in a more casual discussion at times.
We started with ZFG Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve Production Napa Valley 2023. This wine began for the Mike and Jenny Farmer, just for fun, but through their association with Paula Kornell Wines, this is now a labor of love, and they are now producing seventy-five cases of this wine, which they sell in allotments of six-packs or twelve-packs and the first time available in Michigan. The fruit is harvested from the Oakville Benchlands and exemplifies the famed gravel and loamy soils of the Oakville AVA. The deep garnet wine offered notes of black cherry, blackberry and cassis, followed by violets and lavender, along with cigar box and toasted vanilla. On the palate theis full-bodied, well-balanced wine displayed tones of black and red fruits, mocha, leather and baking spices blending with silky tannins ending with a good medium-to-long count finish of fruit, crushed stones and graphite and the ethereal tones of Sous-bois blending with terroir.
The second wine that we had was ZFG Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District AVA 2023 and only one barrel was made of this, or twenty-five cases. Diamond Mountain District was established in 2001, though its first vineyard was planted in the 1860 by Joseph Schram which later became Schramsberg Vineyard property. It is located south of and above Calistoga and there is five thousand acres of vineyards, scrubland and forests. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominate varietal, but the other Bordeaux grapes are grown, as well as some Zinfandel; and there is even some white varietal grapes grown there too. This deep garment-colored wine offered notes of blue and black fruits, followed by minerals and Sous-bois. On the palate this full-bodied, well-balanced wine displayed rich black cherries and currants, dark chocolate and spices blending with velvety tannins and ending with a long-count finish of elegant fruit, spices and notable terroir.
Just when I thought we were done, since it was only Jim, Mike and myself, Jim had a special bottle opened and poured for us, and I must admit, it was from one of my favorite communes on the Right Bank. We were regaled with a tasting of Chateau de Sales Pomerol 2015. Chateau de Sales is the largest estate in Pomerol and one of the few estates there that has an historic building, more commonly associated with the Medoc. The property has been in the de Lambert family for over five centuries, though the chateau was built in the 17th Century. Outside of losing three hectares during the French Revolution, the property limits have maintained the same since 1578. The soil is mostly sandy (which contains some iron oxide), with fine gravel and some patches of clay. The property is planted at seventy-three percent Merlot, fifteen percent Cabernet Sauvignon and twelve percent Cabernet Franc. The grounds are maintained in the classic traditional ways, but with some environmentally friendly concepts being introduced, and the fruit is hand-picked. The wine is aged in French Oak for twelve months, with about twenty percent new barrels, and the wine is usually bottled about eighteen months after the harvest. This deep purple wine offered notes of plums, cranberries, blackberries and dark cherries followed by soft floral, cedar, leather, herbs and spices. On the palate this medium-to-full bodied, well-balanced wine displayed tones of plums and cherries with some smokiness blending with velvety tannins and ending with a nice long-count finish of rich black fruit, vanilla, toffee/caramel and a bit of chalky terroir.
