Pedroncelli Winery 2015 Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel : Ready for Classic Comfort Foods

Hello Friends,

Besides the beauty of Mother Nature’s stunning artwork, fall brings cooler weather and an appetite for hearty comfort foods and robust red wines. And I have just the full-bodied, purple colored wine for you, my friends: the 2015 Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel from Sonoma County’s Pedroncelli Winery. Fruit for this wine is sourced from Bushnell Vineyard, a 22-acre site situated on the eastern hillsides of Dry Creek Valley. This vineyard, which is great for Zinfandel, has been part of the Pedroncelli estate since the 1940s. So not only will you have a bit of history in your glass, you will also have a wine that’s both enjoyable and affordable.

Pedroncelli Winery 2015 Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel 

Throughout this year, I’ve been lucky enough to partake in a number of exciting virtual events celebrating Pedroncelli’s 90th anniversary in the wine business—an impressive accomplishment. The winery is family-owned and currently operated by third-and fourth-generation relatives. A recent wine and food pairing I found great pleasure in and highly recommend, is sausage, cheese and basil lasagna paired with the Pedroncelli 2015 Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel. You can find the wine and the lasagna recipe on the Pedroncelli website. I’ve made the collection of family recipes a favorite in my web browser. If you enjoy cooking (with glass in hand of course), I highly recommend bookmarking it too. Please see my tasting notes below along with a link to where you can find the wine. 

All three reds were good potential suitors—but the lasagna and Pedroncelli 2015 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel are simply meant to be together

Pedroncelli Winery 2015 Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel (SRP $26): Bushnell Vineyard has been a consistent source of fruit for Pedroncelli since the 1940s. Deep purple in color, inviting dark-skinned, berry-driven aromas give way to ripe plums, briary fruit, spice box, cracked black pepper, and cacao nib flavors. Rich and voluptuous in profile, this wine wears its weight well, with a good kick of acidity keeping everything in check. There’s a suggestion of floral perfume, mocha, and sweet barrel spice on the medium-long finish. This wine is a fine, soul-warming solitary sipper—particularly on a cozy autumn evening in front of a roaring fire. It is also a great match for classic comfort foods and just about anything off the grill or smoker. Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California. Other info: ABV 15.2%, matured 16 months in American oak barrels—40% new, 3% addition of Petite Sirah, natural cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.