Zinfandel is not always easy to make with extreme heat. With the heat dome of 2022, ripening was sometimes an issue for Zinfandel. But HALL President Mike Reynolds explained that their optical sorting machine greatly helped this problem “Because with the optical sorting you get grapes in the cluster at 35 brix and 19 brix and we get rid of the 35 brix grapes.” Reynolds mentioned that fruit quality was very high in 2022 for BACA, one of the newer HALL brands that focuses entirely on producing world-class Zinfandel from top sites across California. BACA also makes one of the best canned wines you will taste, their Rose wine that shows both outstanding texture and flavor range.
Jennifer Brown is the Vintner of BACA Wines, as she heads marketing, operations and sales. Prior to working at HALL, WALT and BACA Wines, Jennifer was the founder of Omghow/Girl Karma Inc., a social platform and positive destination for teen girls. Jennifer grew up in the wine industry and is the daughter of Vintner Kathryn Walt Hall. She has a law degree from Stanford University. To say she has done an exceptional job with this exciting new brand would be a gross understatement as these wines have been a massive success from the beginning. Despite the obvious heat of the 2022 vintage, the new releases by BACA were really good. I love the 2022 BACA Zinfandel ‘Cat’s Cradle’ Zinfandel (OB, 93) which is very dense and chewy with fantastic aging potential. Learn more about these beautiful wines at bacawines.com and here are my reviews of the new BACA wines.
2022 BACA ‘Double Dutch Dusi Ranch’ Zinfandel- This 2022 Zinfandel comes from the Dusi Ranch which is a head-trained vineyard set in Paso Robles. These vines were planted in 1945. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins and a smooth texture. Layers of sweet fig and dates combine with salted wet stone and baking spices on the palate. Showing good underlying freshness, this is already nicely evolved stuff. Drink 2023-2029- 92
2022 BACA Zinfandel ‘Home Base’ Zinfandel- This beautiful 2022 Zinfandel comes from the Dry Creek Valley where the BACA tasting room is located. Inky in the glass, this offers loads of freshness on the palate. Rich dark fruits parade with chocolate and dried herbs on the palate. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2022 BACA Zinfandel ‘Cat’s Cradle’ Zinfandel- This wine comes from the Rockpile Appellation, located in the northwestern part of Lake Sonoma. The nose shows graphite and anise alongside a nice core of dark fruits and coffee grounds. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and great sense of power. Bright underlying freshness combines with the rich core of dark fruits. Drink 2023-2033- 93