Limited new Cabernet from Dave Phinney's new winery The Crane Assembly - limited. 95 Points Robert Parker: "The third blend Dave Phinney and winemaker Kevin Fox are turning out is the El Coco Proprietary Blend Composition. The 2014 is 45% old vine Zinfandel, 41% Petite Sirah and 14% Merlot. There are 490 cases for this vintage. It is a spectacular wine, with an opaque purple color and a big, sweet kiss of pen ink, graphite, blackberry, blueberry and violets. Its supple, sweet tannin is amazing, and the wine builds incrementally to reveal terrific viscosity, fruit intensity and extraction, with a savory spiciness. This is a stunner to drink now and over the next 15+ years.... ...The winemaker behind these magnificent wines is Dave Phinney, working from the Dr. George Beldon Crane Vineyard, which was first planted as a site in 1885. At that time it was largely a blend of grapes often referred to as “mixed blacks.” There are now eight acres in production, four containing the original plantings and the rest planted from 1930 onward. Phinney and a group of his friends purchased the vineyard in 2012. These notes reflect what they’re doing to date and serious consumers should be thrilled." From the new winery The Crane Assembly has quite a back story. In August of 2012, four friends (Dave Phinney, Darryl Browman, Kevin A. Fox and Bryan D. Sandoli) stood in the middle of a block of hundred year old Zinfandel. The vineyard was planted by George Beldon Crane in the late nineteenth century and is one of the icons of the Napa Valley. Hours earlier they had signed the paperwork to buy the vineyard and it was just in the nick of time...they picked the grapes the next morning. Since that first year wines were made from our G.B. Crane Vineyard under the el Coco label and the GB Crane label.
David L
2014 G.B. Crane El Coco 45% Zin 41% Petitie Sirah 14% Merlot. A Dave Phinney wine. 45/ 60 minute decanting. Color dark garnet/purple. The nose certainly grabs your attention. Blueberries, dried lavender, rosemary, orange mist. That’s unique. Palate- Medium bodied, tannins & acidity are right down the middle 5/10. Black fruits & jam is most noticeable, influenced by some nice soft blue fruit. Secondary notes of Cedar, black candies. Vanilla hit you on the mid -palate until the very end. Surprising elegant finish. Drinking now.
2014 G.B. Crane El Coco 45% Zin 41% Petitie Sirah 14% Merlot. A Dave Phinney wine. 45/ 60 minute decanting. Color dark garnet/purple. The nose certainly grabs your attention. Blueberries, dried lavender, rosemary, orange mist. That’s unique. Palate- Medium bodied, tannins & acidity are right down the middle 5/10. Black fruits & jam is most noticeable, influenced by some nice soft blue fruit. Secondary notes of Cedar, black candies. Vanilla hit you on the mid -palate until the very end. Surprising elegant finish. Drinking now.
9.3Shawn R
45% Old Vine Zin, you would never know it.
45% Old Vine Zin, you would never know it.
9.3Shawn R
Despite the Noles getting beat, this bottle was a crowd pleaser.
Despite the Noles getting beat, this bottle was a crowd pleaser.
9.2Shay A
@Shawn R ...WELL DONE! This was part of a trio of wines that Shawn and I swapped. He was swooning over this and said it was a must try. Now I see why. This is a Dave Phinney wine and though you can taste his style, it's more elegant than The Prisoner (similar blends in that this is majority zin! Would not of guessed it). Ton of blackberries upfront on the nose...small spice to it and a rockin cedar/smokey note. On the palate, surprising acidity. Not overpowering from a tannic standpoint at all, even as a '14. Vanilla, toasted oak, blackberry jam. Shawn sent this as I told him my wife likes the jammy and bold zins...home run, Shawn!
@Shawn R ...WELL DONE! This was part of a trio of wines that Shawn and I swapped. He was swooning over this and said it was a must try. Now I see why. This is a Dave Phinney wine and though you can taste his style, it's more elegant than The Prisoner (similar blends in that this is majority zin! Would not of guessed it). Ton of blackberries upfront on the nose...small spice to it and a rockin cedar/smokey note. On the palate, surprising acidity. Not overpowering from a tannic standpoint at all, even as a '14. Vanilla, toasted oak, blackberry jam. Shawn sent this as I told him my wife likes the jammy and bold zins...home run, Shawn!
9.4Scot Walker
Very smooth fruit forward wine
Very smooth fruit forward wine
8.9Nathan Rogers
This is a fantastic wine. Bone-in Ribeye on the Big Green Egg with loads of chimmichurri and a couple glasses of this could not have been more perfect. This is what Zinfandel is capable of in the right hands!
This is a fantastic wine. Bone-in Ribeye on the Big Green Egg with loads of chimmichurri and a couple glasses of this could not have been more perfect. This is what Zinfandel is capable of in the right hands!
9.0David Schiraldi
Classic Napa cab, underpriced
Classic Napa cab, underpriced
9.4Michel Holland
Great wine, hurrah for D. Phinney
Great wine, hurrah for D. Phinney
9.4WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.