1997 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Napa Estate Eastern Exposures Zinfandel, Napa Valley, USA 750ml

This may be the finest Zinfandel vintage that proprietor Jerry Seps has yet produced. He has been trying to build a multilayered texture into his wines, which have had a predilection to be structured and closed, yet ageworthy. Seps appears to have admirably accomplished that in 1997, producing wines with the potential to age yet having a certain accessibility. This offering is higher in alcohol than usual, with a softer texture and deep concentration. The 1997 Zinfandel Eastern Exposures contains 11% Viognier. It may be the most hedonistic wine Storybook Mountain has yet produced. The knock-out nose of black fruits, peaches, and apricots soars from the glass. Full-bodied and layered, with outstanding concentration and purity, plenty of the black cherry/spicy Zinfandel character, and a deep, layered finish, this opulently-styled effort will drink well for 8-10 years.