Decompression Time!
May 06, 2004

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> Finally, do you remember the 2001 August Briggs Zinfandel that I selected last summer for my birthday bbq rib dinner? If you were one of the lucky ones to latch on to bottles of this recommendation, hopefully you have now tried a bottle or so and sharemy enthusiasm. This is a copy of my email last August.

Guess what? Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine certainly agreed with me. In its annual 2004 JanuaryZin ZAP issue (always passed out for freeat the SF ZAP event) CGCWscored the 2001 August Briggs Zinfandel 95 pointsto make it thetop ratedZinfandel ofall those reviewed.

According to the winery's representative, only nine cases of the 2002 August Briggs Zinfandelare allocated for the East Bay/Sacramento Valley. However, to reward TWC for my support of the 2001 Zin, the winery has decided thatit will allow me to place a one time orderfor whatever amount I desire later in the month. Ah! The benefits of being a TWC email recipient!! Ihave tasted this 2002Zin twice.......Once in early March just after bottling when the wine was underwhelming and obviously bottle shocked......And then againyesterday, when I was relieved that the wine hadaccomplished a complete reversal and the wine was very reminiscent of the brilliant 2001.Without hesitation, I can endorse the 2002vintage as another greatsuccess!451-5284

The 2002 August Briggs Napa Valley Zinfandel isthe eighth vintage of this wine sincethe inception of the winery in 1995. The wine is a combination of two old vine vineyards, the first being planted in 1904 within the city limits of Calistoga. The second vineyard being the Frediani Vineyard which was planted in 1950 and is located just a quarter mile south of the winery on the Silverado Trail. Both vineyard are head trained and non-irrigated, thus yielding one to two tons per acre depending on the vintage. Deep ruby in color with aromas of blackberry, spice, tobacco and cedar. This is an old style Zinfandel with a ripe core of fruit and a good backbone of tannin, thus matching well with a diversity of cuisines......especially bbq ribs! The grapes for this wine were picked at about 26 brix, destemed into a small open-topped fermenter, and punched down by hand. After completion of fermentation the wine was drained, pressed, and inoculated with a malo-lactic culture. Completion of ML was allowed while aging in 35% Demptos American oak barrels and 65% two and three year old French barrels. Barrel aging lasted 15 month prior to bottling without filtration. 758 cases produced.

The winery's price is $31.95 per bottle. ORDER NOWby reply email or telephone to purchase at mydiscounted price of $28.50 per bottle. All orders will be confirmed by reply emailwith your invoice # and amount. The 2002 August Briggs Zinfandel will be ready to pick up the last week of May.