John K.
Yelp
Harney Lane is one of the best wineries in all of Lodi. They are consistently high in quality, and yet they do not shy away from the more exotic varietals like Petite Sirah and Tempranillo. Probably know for their flight of Zinfandel, you will be hard pressed to find a better Chardonnay and Rose' in all of Lodi.
Here is the lineup from April 2022:
2020 Primitivo Rose'
Very pale rose' thin viscosity, almost like a dirty pink chardonnay
Clean mineral notes, minimal fruit and laser sharp on the palate, maybe touch of stone fruit but nothing distinctive except the velocity of flavor on the tongue. A nice temperate rose'.
2019 Chardonnay
Malolactic flavors really stand out but not over the top, and the wine still retains balance and acidity. Maybe a touch over manipulated but the flavors are clean and fresh. Nose is closed off but aromatics do not fracture from the flavor. Thin viscosity and pale straw in color the chardonnay finishes with a touch of citric acidity, more like an orange than a lemon. Hints of a dissipated carbonation and intense natural sugars leaving viscous legs on the glass.
2019 Zinfandel Home Ranch
3% Petite Sirah 20 months in American Oak
Near dark raspberry in color, light viscosity and nice aromatics of oak and hints of savory spice. Almost one of those wines that makes you taste two, three and even 4 times to get different parts of the finish. A fun wine that could really get better in the next year or two.
2019 Lizzy James Zinfandel
A brooding entrance. Initially there are notes of baked dark fruit pie, but it's a hint that dissipates quickly.
Bold and spicy on the mouth, well rounded but potential improvement in about 1.5 years. Needs to be aerated but the flavors start to calm down and come through. Alcohol is present but not overpowering dark fruit notes. Difficult to pull out a specific fruit so I'll just call it a Razzleberry flavor like the three berry pie from Marie Callenders.
Nice lingering line of cooked fruits with balanced viscosity. Very clean in the glass and pure flavors come through in harmony.
2019 Scottsdale Zinfandel (vintage check)
Much darker than Lizzy, very spicy, very pleasing on the palate and clearly a bit more refined than previous wines. Less oak, more natural fruit and hints of that luxurious white pepper. A delicious wine to pair with grilled meats marinated and seared with notes of smoke and heavy spices. Not to be paired with prime cuts as the wine will probably overpower the New York or Filet.
2019 Petite Sirah (vintage check)
Super dark in glass, nose is closed and tight. Really only have alcohol coming out of the glass. Strange on the tongue, not a rounded flavor and just not my tempo. Might be a good sipper along some tapas but as a stand alone wine I'm not digging the profile. Could probably hold up to a blue cheese and candied pecan snacker...maybe a lamb dish but I'd rather go with any other wine above.
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Light hue, similar to the zinfandel. Very young in terms of "edge" of the glass. Not much viscosity. Aromatics hint of cab but not very distinctive. Feels a bit forced and one dimensional. Picnic Cab would work nicely for maybe a concert in the park and you really love red and avoid white wine like the plague..
