Zd abacus review12/10/2023 Reservations are suggested, and required for tours and for groups of six or more. ZD Wines’ big, anniversary celebrations took place a month or two ago, but the winery is open for visits every day from 10am to 4pm. Later in the aforementioned conference, Brandon deLeuze joined Steve Matthiasson and Rory Williams at Tres Sabores to share information with the writers about organic viticulture and being a small, family-owned wineries in Napa Valley. Their vineyards are organically farmed and the company is certified by CCOF, Fish Friendly Farming, Napa Green Winery, and California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing. Abacus XI is scheduled for release this month.īrandon deLeuze speaking to wine writers about organic grape growingĬommitment to responsible stewardship is a core principle at ZD. ![]() Last year’s release, Abacus XX, includes wines from 26 vintages. They first made the wine in 1992 and maintain a sort of solera system for fractional blending of numerous vintages. The flagship wine for ZD Wines is Abacus, a unique, multi-vintage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon. I don’t have tasting notes on the wine, because I was in presentation mode when we enjoyed it. Just 475 cases were made and it’s only available at the winery. The base wine was aged for 11 months (24% American oak, 76% stainless steel) and then aged on the lees in bottle for two years before disgorgment. It’s 100% Chardonnay from their Carneros estate vineyard. The writers who attended my Wine Writers’ Educational Tour conference in Napa Valley this May were fortunate to be the first, non-ZD personnel to taste the 50th Anniversary Sparkling Cuvée. ![]() And they recently released their first-ever traditional method sparkling wine. They make a few other wines too, including Rosa Lee commemorative wines which currently include a still Pinot Meunier and a Port-style dessert wine. Wine production is focused on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, mostly from ZD Wines estate vineyard in Carneros, and Cabernet Sauvignon, featuring fruit from their Rutherford estate near the winery on Silverado Trail. Brandon’s sister, Jill deLeuze Billeci, is an active board member. Third-generation, Brandon deLeuze was recently promoted to Winemaker, working with Senior Winemaker Chris Pisani. The second generation is represented by CEO and Director of Winemaking Robert deLeuze and President Brett deLeuze. The winery Norman and Rosa Lee deLeuze established in 1969 is going strong and still family-owned and -operated. Jim knew all the answers to every question we posed, was friendly, took his time to make sure we had all the information we wanted.Rutherford-based ZD Wines celebrates its 50th harvest this year. Having taken several tours over the years, this was the most informative tour we have ever taken. Jim taught us to read the abacus…very interesting! We toured the barrel room and learned the importance of oak barrels, their origin, and their toasting. The medallions have an abacus on them to indicate the year of production. ![]() The winery had just finished bottling so there was little going on in the winery but we did get a chance to watch two young ladies making the medallions that are are attached to every bottle of Abacus, the premier wine of ZD. Jim took us to the ‘library’, a room where numerous vintages are stored and explained the history of the winery, all the while offering tastings of wines. ZD is named for the original founders, Norman deLeuze and Gino Zepponi, who pioneered winemaking in 1969 in the Napa Valley. We are huge ZD fans so we looked forward to sampling and learning about the vintage. Beginning with a chat in the front room while sampling some chardonnay, Jim asked for our preferences. ZD wines offer tours by reservation only and we were so fortunate to have Jim B.
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