2019 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Los Amigos and Limerick Lane

2019 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Los Amigos and Limerick Lane

I’ve been a huge fan of Limerick Lane Cellars (www.limericklanewines.com) wines for many years. This boutique Sonoma wine producer makes some of my very favorite California Zinfandel and this bottle was outstanding. I love their motto “while we lack pretension, we are very serious about our craft”.

I was fortunate enough to visit Limerick Lane in 2019 and their place is intimate, tranquil and just magical. The tasting room is mere feet from the vineyard and we had an opportunity to spend time in the field and on the patio after our tasting.

We enjoyed this Russian River Valley wine on Easter where I served grilled lamb chops and it was an amazing pairing.

At this price point for such a delicious wine, I’m sorry I only have two bottles left in the cellar. Only 325 cases of this wine were made, so if you can get your hands on some, do it. I can’t wait to taste the newer releases.

Looks: Inky dark red in the glass

Smell: Inviting dark berry and cherry with some mocha and herbal (sage?) notes on the nose

Taste: Ripe strawberry and raspberry with some peppery notes on the palate

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, with great acidity on the long finish

Pairings: Grilled beef or lamb. Would be great with skirt steak tacos

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Old vine Zinfandel

Region: Sonoma County, CA

Price: $48

Cheers, Veronique

2019 Limerick Lane Rosé

2019 Limerick Lane Rosé

I wrote about my visit to Limerick Lane Cellars after my last Sonoma County winery tour. The place is amazing, and I highly recommend a visit next time you’re in wine country. Very intimate setting with very knowledgeable staff and some of the very best wines in Sonoma.

As part of my allocation, I ordered a few of the rosé bottles as it’s a special wine. The creation of the Limerick Lane Rosé was inspired by Jake Bilbro’s 2012 visit to Southern Rhone region of France then Provence.

The grapes for the 2019 Limerick Lane Rosé are grown and picked specifically for this wine and not a saignée of Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. If you’re fortunate enough to find this wine (less than 500 cases made), buy buy buy!

Looks: Medium salmon in the glass

Smell: Inviting juicy citrus and floral notes on the nose

Taste: Zesty citrus, ripe strawberry on the palate

Texture and Finish: Light-bodied, with great acidity with a dry/clean finish

Pairings: Seafood (specially oysters and mussels), fish (ceviche would be great). Great as an aperitif but so food friendly also

Style: Rosé Wine

Grape Type(s): 50% Syrah, 27% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache & 3% Grenache Blanc

Region: Sonoma County, CA

Price: $28

Cheers,

Veronique

Limerick Lane Cellars Tasting Room Visit

Limerick Lane Cellars Tasting Room Visit

About Limerick Lane Cellars

Limerick Lane Cellars is a 30-acre estate located in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, just south of Healdsburg. While the area is renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Limerick Lane grows and produces world class Zinfandel and Rhone-blends.

Limerick Lane was originally planted in 1910 by the Del Fava family, immigrants from Italy. It’s now thought to be one of the top areas for Zinfandel in Sonoma County. Limerick Lane is now owned and run by brothers Jake and Scot Bilbro, the sons of Chris Bilbro who owns the acclaimed Marietta Cellars. Scot is the primary winemaker and Jake is charged with sales of the wines.

The Limerick Lane vineyards are rocky and well-drained and rocky – ideal for growing Zinfandel, Syrah and Grenache, the core wines at the winery. 

About the Tasting Room

View from Tasting Room

We made the lovely drive to the Limerick Lane tasting room located amid the vineyards right in the heart of the Russian River Valley, only three miles from downtown Healdsburg. The staff was beyond friendly and shared a wealth of knowledge with us that included a walk through the vineyard, directly outside the tasting room building. Tasting notes about the wines we sampled is below.

The tasting room is open daily from 10am – 5pm and absolutely worth a visit when in Sonoma, this was one of our best tastings in Sonoma. 

About the Wines

2017 Limerick Lane Rosé ($28)

We loved this rosé and picked up a case for summer parties. It’s not a saignée of Pinot Noir or Zinfandel – the grapes are grown and picked specifically for this wine. It’s 62% Syrah and 38% Grenache. The nose on this lovely salmon-colored wine is citrusy. On the palate, it tastes of sweet strawberries and juicy sweet lemons. There’s great, food-friendly acidity on the finish.

2015 Limerick Lane Russian River Zinfandel ($42)

This estate Zinfandel is Limerick Lane’s flagship wine. It’s inky in the glass with big dark berry aromas with mocha notes. Flavors are of juicy red berries with peppery/chocolate notes. It’s big and rich in the best possible way with a long, tannic finish.

Limerick Lane Rosé

Limerick Lane Rosé

2015 Limerick Lane Rocky Knoll Zinfandel ($60)

This Zinfandel is blended with small amounts of Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Carignan and Syrah. 12 barrels produced. Big aromas and flavors of dark berries on this rich, opulent wine. Great acidity on the long finish.

2015 Limerick Lane Headpruned Block Syrah ($50)

100% Syrah. Limerick Lane claims this is quite possibly the one and only acre of headpruned Syrah in all of California. Only 8 barrels of this amazing wine are produced, so sipping it outside the tasting room is pretty unlikely, unless on the allocation list. Floral aromas with peppery notes. Juicy dark raspberry on the palate on this well-made, rich wine.

Limerick Lane Cellars – 1023 Limerick Lane, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Cheers,

Veronique