Key characteristics
Aroma: Expect notes of red fruit like raspberry, cherry, and plum, complemented by hints of baking spices (cinnamon, clove), vanilla, cedar, and occasionally, rhubarb or even black tea and forest floor notes.Palate: The wine is described as full and lush, offering flavors of strawberry, pomegranate, and cherry, with well-integrated oak nuances. Some reviewers also note a delightful berry jam flavor with a touch of toasted oak.Structure: It's considered medium-bodied with balanced acidity and tannins that contribute to a silky or smooth mouthfeel.Finish: The wine typically boasts a long, complex, and sometimes lingering finish.
Awards and recognition
The 2022 vintage of ZD Wines' Founder's Reserve Pinot Noir, which is harvested from their organically certified Carneros Estate vineyard, has received notable accolades, including:
95 Points and a Platinum Medal at the Critics Challenge International Wine Competition. Gold Medals at the Pacific Rim Wine Competition and Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition. 91 Points at the CA State Fair Wine Competition.
Aging potential
The 2022 ZD Wines Carneros Pinot Noir is reported to be enjoyable now, but it's also noted that it will age gracefully for many years to come, developing further complexity in the bottle.
Overall
This Pinot Noir is a classic expression of Carneros terroir, offering a balance of bright fruit, spice, and structure. It's a versatile wine, suitable for enjoyment on its own or paired with food.
Founded in 1969, ZD Wines is owned and operated by the deLeuze Family. The winery is located in Rutherford, a premium Cabernet Sauvignon growing region in the heart of the Napa Valley. ZD Wines is a family business that is committed to producing world-class wines, farming organically and providing first-class hospitality to guests, all while supporting many charitable efforts locally and throughout the country. They celebrate more than 50 years of winemaking, with the second and third generations of the deLeuze family carrying on the family legacy.
ZD Wines primarily produces three core varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The current ZD winemaking and vineyard management team have amassed a fantastic base of winemaking and vineyard management knowledge with more than 100 years of combined experience. The winemaking team is comprised of Robert deLeuze (CEO/Director of Winemaking), Chris Pisani (Senior Winemaker), Brandon deLeuze (Winemaker), and Chad McComber (Cellar Master). They combine their winemaking knowledge and use blending as their ultimate winemaking tool to craft wines of quality, consistency and style. Rafael Llamas Sr. (Estate Vineyard Manager) and his son Rafael Llamas Jr. (Hospitality, Garden Curator and Vineyard Assistant), manage ZD’s certified organic estate vineyards at the Rutherford winery, as well as the ZD Carneros Estate in Napa. The winery also maintains long-term grower relationships with vineyards in Napa, Sonoma Carneros, Monterey and Santa Barbara.
Founder Norman deLeuze believed that great wines are made from healthy vines grown in rich, living soils. ZD Wines has an in-depth history of embracing an ecologically sensitive approach to all aspects of their operation. With a focus on producing world-class wines, their certified organic vineyards promote biodiversity using the best technologies of the day, as well as time honored farming methods. The winery and vineyards use solar energy, bio fuels, composting, cover cropping, recycling, water conservation, electric vehicles, and more, to conserve and enhance our planet. ZD’s Rutherford and Carneros Estates have been certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and are certified by Fish Friendly Farming, Napa Green Winery and California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing. The winery offers an Eco Vineyard Tour at their Rutherford property where guests walk through the organic certified vineyards and learn firsthand about the winery’s eco practices.
To date, ZD Wines and The deLeuze Family Charitable Foundation have raised more than $1,000,000 to support research lead by Dr. Joseph Tuscano at the UC Davis Cancer Center. In addition to fundraising events, each week the deLeuze family and ZD team deliver healthy snacks to the Napa Valley Boys & Girls Club Teen Center. The deLeuze family also provides an annual $500 grant to each employee to gift to local charities of their choosing.
