Lowest Price Anywhere on a 91pt Wine Spectator Red Blend from California

Jeff Cohn 'The Impostor' Red Blend 2016

Jeff Cohn Cellars was founded in Sonoma by Jeff and his wife Alexandra in 1996. Jeff always had a love and passion for Rhone-centric varietals as well as Zinfandel. Jeff worked for years at Rosenblum Cellars, starting out as the Enologist doing lab work and eventually working his way up to the vice president of winemaking and production. While working at Rosenblum, Jeff produced the first California Zinfandel to hit the top 10 of the Wine Spectator Top 100 list with the 2003 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zin, garnering #3 on the 2005 list! Soon after, Jeff left Rosenblum in order to focus on his own winemaking pursuits as well as consulting for a number of other wineries. 

Now located in Sonoma, over 85% of the grapes used at Jeff Cohn Cellars come from long-term partnerships with wine growers in the Sonoma Valley. Jeff follows three core conecpts when creating wines: Make the best wine possible from the highest quality fruit, and from the vineyards that showcase the terroir and unique character that sets our wines apart. He has a passion for finding rocky, hillside vineyards that really show a sense of place, and concentration of fruit in the finished wine. He is constantly in the vineyards tasting grapes for ripeness, and is known to ignore the numbers saying that it is time to harvest, and only picking grapes when he feels that they are ready.

In the winery he also takes no shortcuts and is constantly experimenting with different winemaking techniques, from terra cotta amphora to larger format French oak barrels. Wines are looked at individually, barrel by barrel, as he looks to bottle the absolute best wine possible that shows a sense of place of where the wine actually came from. 

The Impostor is sourced from grapes grown in Sonoma, Amador and Paso Robles, from rocky, loamy vineyard plots. It was aged for 14 months in neutral oak and a 600 gallon tank, all of which preserves the richness and deep color of the fruit. This is a deep wine that is full-bodied from start to finish. Blending Jeff's passion for the Rhone with his passion for Zinfandel, this wine is a blend of 44% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah, 14% Syrah, 12% Grenache, 5% Carignane, 2% Mourvèdre and 1% Viognier. All but the first two grapes being found in many Rhone Valley blends. 

Rated 91 Points by the Wine Spectator - "Opens with a burst of ripe black raspberry fruit followed by expressive layers of smoky anise, espresso and licorice flavors that build toward polished tannins. Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier and Carignane. Drink now through 2025. 500 cases made."

From the Winery - "A deep black cherry color with aromas that are briary, jammy blackberry, and black cherry, roasted herbs de Provence, salted black licorice and a mix of freshly cracked black-red-white pepper. This is one loaded glass of wine that’s flavors echo its aromas. Deep, mysterious and full bodied from the front palate to the lengthy finish."

Sold at the winery for $35, this wine is regularly seen at about $30 and up. If you're a fan of this big style, we know that you will love it at $21.99 per bottle!

Cheers!
Tracy Maxon

tracy@varmax.com