In this age of overdone Zinfandels, it is nice to find an accessible, nicely crafted wine that relies primarily on its inner balance and drinkability instead of ripeness and power. Of course, this wine is no weak sister and it comes well-stuffed with keenly focused blackberry fruit seasoned by creamy oak in both its expansively expressed aromas and ripe, vaguely chocolate-tinged flavors. It is suitably supple in texture under an initially tannic veneer, but even that little bit of astringency only adds to its solidity for use now or in a few years time

Mariah is the premiere source of limited availability, ultra-premium wines from the newly-designated Mendocino Ridge appellation.

The Mendocino Ridge location sits high above the fog line that reaches to the Anderson Valley. It is the highest appellation in California. The Mariah vineyard rests on a flat mesa 2600 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

Mendocino Ridge is the world's only non-contiguous wine appellation. The appellation consists of a series of mountain peaks with vineyards being a minimum of 1,200 feet above sea level. Grapes from the ridge top vineyard of Mariah create wines of uniquely ripe, concentrated fruit, unparalleled character and high acid.