Robert Sinskey Vineyards

Episode 4
The 2008 Adventures of Commander Zinskey

After liquidating the rebel leader of the Cabernet Cartel, Commander Zinskey returned to his humble home on Planet Carneros to find his beloved Princess Vin Gris taken captive by a sleeper cell of the once powerful White Zin Supremacists. The nearly defeated WZS, it seems, have regrouped and joined forces with the Muscateers in a quest for world domination.

Can the Commander rescue his love from the enemy while armed with only his persuasively elegant manner and low octane ray gun? Only time will tell if the smooth talking Commander has what it takes to defeat his enemies and remain the last man standing... stay tuned for the further adventures of Commander Zinskey and the Lost Planet Pinot Boys!

Rescue Hunger

The release of Commander Zinskey Zinfandel doesn't come every year but when it does I get excited, very excited. It's probably one of the lowest octane Zin's you will find in the market today. At 13.8%, with a zip of acidity and a rush of spicy black and red fruit, this wines begs for BBQ, down home or Asian inspired. Because it is more sleek and racy than most Zinfandels, it makes a beautiful companion to these Asian Spiced Duck Burgers. They are delicate, yet meaty and bursting with juice and flavor, much like the wine. While Commander Zinskey saves the world from dehydration, these burgers will save you from hunger.

EAT:  Asian Spiced Duck Burgers

Zinfandel in Carneros? Preposterous, You Say?

Commander Zinskey’s Zinfandel grows on the top of RSV’s certified organic and Biodynamic Vandal Vineyard. Vandal defines the Northern border of Carneros, straddling a ridge that divides Carneros from Napa Valley proper. The crown of the vineyard, where the Zin grows, is out of the fog a bit and gets more sun hours than lower Carneros. All this means that Zinfandel hangs long and happy on Vandal, building flavor yet maintaining relatively modest sugar levels.

Zinfandel grown in a warmer environment can make for an extreme wine, achieving frightening levels of alcohol to become the sort of wine that jumps out of the glass and grabs you by the throat! Commander Zinskey, by contrast, has the confidence to tone down the volume, yet, if you are listening, has plenty to say.

Zinfandel is a straggler and ripens late in the season. The cellar crew de-stems the bunches and leaves the rollers open wide on the crusher to encourage a good population of whole berries in the tanks. These whole berries extend the fermentation process, aerate the ferment, minimize harsh tannins, and impart a zingy berry character. Pressed off after fermentation, the wine rests in 30% new French oak barrels for about 18 months before bottling.