2008 Folie à Deux Zinfandel Amador County
The French phrase “folie à deux” translated into English means “a passion shared by two”. How fitting the name Folie a Deux is for the Amador County, California winery. Ardent wine aficionados will have no difficulty sharing their passion for the vintages created by Folie a Deux.
Folie a Deux, located in Oakville, California, is an award-winning winery. They have received several favorable reviews and their wines have made the wine lists of many top-notch American restaurants. Folie a Deux warmly welcomes their fans to visit, tour the grounds of the winery and make reservations for wine tastings. The tasting room and winery are open 7 days a week.
The Zinfandels produced by Folie a Deux originate from some of the oldest vines in Amador County. This area of the Sierra foothills in northern California is famous for the Zinfandels produced here. The Zinfandels from Amador County tend to have pronounced, impassioned flavors because of the age of the vines.
The grapes which birthed the Folie a Deux Amador County Zinfandel 2008 were carefully hand-picked. The stems were removed from the grapes, and then the grapes were crushed. The crushed grapes and their juice were cold soaked in tanks for a time period ranging from one to three days. Once the fermentation process began, the tanks were “racked and returned” on a daily basis. In this process, the fermented wine is removed from the grape masses. The “rack and return” process reduces harsh tannins. The Zinfandel was then aged in American, French and Hungarian oak for a period of 14 months. The oak-aging process increases the complexity and bouquet of the vintage.
The Folie à Deux Amador County Zinfandel 2008 is a classic representation of Amador County Zinfandels. Flavors of juicy blackberry, spicy cinnamon and sweet licorice show off initially. It finishes with a bold yet balanced infusion of ripe cherry and plum suggestions along with exotic vanilla and allspice. The finish is satiny soft with a spicy oak sensation. It can be described as strikingly rich and bold with evenly harmonized flavors.
The composition of the Folie a Deux Amador County Zinfandel 2008 is 80% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah and 5% Barbera. There were 18,000 cases produced, each bottle having 14.5% alcohol content. The suggested retail price for each bottle is about $18. Petite Sirah is the most common varietal blended with Zinfandel because it adds interest and complexity to the wine, as well as helping to tone down the “jamminess” commonly associated with Zinfandels. Barbera adds a ruby red color to the blend, in addition to adding softness.
Wine Facts
Vintage: 2008
Varietal: 80% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah and 5% Barbera
Winery: Folie à Deux
Region: Amador County, California, USA
Alcohol: 14.5%