Wine Advocate 94
"From Mokelumne River in Lodi and made of 100% Zinfandel, the barrel sample of 2018 Zinfandel has a nose of spiced black cherry, blueberry jam and potpourri with herbal and earth touches and peachy undertones. Medium to full-bodied, it offers great intensity of blue fruits in the mouth, with grainy framing tannins and great juicy acidity, finishing long with fruity and spicy layers. 1,120 cases are expected to be made."

Wine Enthusiast 91
Best Buy
"This smoky, spicy wine wraps potent blackberry flavors in black pepper, beef and wood smoke for a dark and delicious effect. It is full-bodied, moderately tannic and nicely concentrated."

Winemaker Notes
2018 began with another very early bloom, leading to a very early harvest in Sonoma County; our first fruit arrived August 5. During maturation, summer temperatures were warm and steady, with fewer heat spikes than 2015. Three weeks of cool weather in August and September relaxed the pace of harvest, allowing for methodical picking decisions and perfectly developed fruit. Yields were relatively average down from 2014 and up from 2015.

The Wine
A unique blend of grape varieties, This wine is 78 Zinfandel, 10 Alicante Bouschet, 10 Petite Sirah and a 2 composite of Sangiovese, Carignane, Trousseau, Petite Bouschet, Syrah, Beclan, Tannat, Peloursin, Graciano, Plavac Mali, Palomino and Monbadon from a heritage vineyard, half planted 125 years ago and the other half 65 years ago. The way the vineyard was planted back in the late 1800s, the various grape varieties are intermixed within the vineyard, so everything is harvested together and co-fermented. The wine was fermented with native yeast and aged sur lie in neutral oak barrels for seven months.

The Winery
Sidebar means the bar adjacent to the main bar or the sidelight of a main story. It is the B-Side to David Rameys Greatest Hits album. This is a new project from David Ramey & Ramey Wine Cellars focused on fun and diverse grape varieties. Apart from the dedication to deliciousness and quality, sidebar remains distinct from Ramey in its varieties and tempo, to be considered under a different set of values. Sidebar wines are invitingly fresh and satisfying in their youth: brightness is key. These wines also play into David Rameys history with Sauvignon Blanc as the flagship. David made some of the most well-known Sauvignon Blanc in Californias history at Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill back in the 80s and 90s.