The Wines of Collier Falls Vineyards

Collier Falls Vineyard is a family owned, 100-acre hillside property located in the far northwest corner of Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County, California. An original eight-acre block of head-pruned Zinfandel was planted in 1982. Since then Barry and Susan Collier have added eleven acres of Zinfandel, Primitivo and Petite Sirah and seven acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

The sixty-foot waterfall on the property gives this wine its name, but hillside vineyards tucked into the northwest corner of the valley provide its true character. Vines densely planted on terraces of rocky clay soil compete with each other for nutrients, giving the grapes complexity, while hot days and cool nights create the perfect microclimate for Dry Creek Zinfandel and hillside Cabernet Sauvignon.

Hand - harvested grapes, delicately crushed, give the winemaker juice concentrated with flavors of red berry and spice. Aging in both French and American oak barrels creates balance and distinctiveness. We hope you enjoy drinking our wine as much as we enjoy growing the grapes for Collier Falls estate wines.

You'll need Acrobat Reader to view the Technical Notes below. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, download it here. To download a label jpg file: click on the link above, and when the window opens displaying the label image go to 'File' in the upper left hand corner of the window, then 'Save As...', then select the location to which you would like to save the file and hit the 'Save' button.

Our Wines:

(note: our online sales are processed through our tasting room,
the Family Wineries of Dry Creek)

2006 Primitivo

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Harvest Dates: September 30, 2006
Average Degree Brix: 25.5
Bottling Date: April 2008
Release Date: January 2009
Blend: 100% Primitivo
pH at Bottling: 3.89
TA: 6.2 g/L
Alcohol: 16.5%
Aging: 15 months new and used French and American Oak
Fermentation: Small stainless steel tank, pumped over twice daily
Racked: Twice during the aging process
Total Cases: 200

Winemaker Notes

The 2006 Collier Falls Primitivo is dark red in color with aromas of red current blackberry and dried plum on the nose. Lovely soft tannins on the palate frame a hint of spice and clove that give way to a finish of subtle toasty oak. The wine was aged in French and American oak barrels for 15 months.
- Mike Lancaster, Winemaker

Downloads

• 2006 Primitivo Technical Notes (77k jpg file)
• 2006 Primitivo Label (288k jpg file)

2007 Late Harvest Primitivo

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Harvest Dates: September, 2007
Average Degree Brix: 31.5
Bottling Date: February, 2009
Release Date: December, 2009
pH at Bottling: 3.49
TA: 7.0 g/L
Alcohol: 15.6%
Residual Sugar: 6.34%
Aging: 21 months in French Oak barrels
Fermentation: Small lot 1 ton binds, punched down manually
Racked: Twice during the aging process
Total Cases: 100

Winemaker Notes

The 2007 Late Harvest Primitivo has a deep red plum color with aromas of dried current and plum on the nose. This late harvest wine is full and rich on the palate with lovely finish of dried fruts, cocoa and a touch of toasty oak. Aged in barrel for 21 months, the wine shows hints of caramel and coffee in palate. A lovely balance between alcohol, residual sugar and acid, this late harvest wine will age well for a number of years.
- Mike Lancaster, Winemaker

Downloads

• 2007 Late Harvest Primitivo Technical Notes (58k pdf file)
• 2007 Late Harvest Primitivo Label (228k jpg file)

2005 Petite Sirah

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Winemaker Notes

The 2005 Collier Falls Petite Sirah has a dark purple color and displays aromas of blueberry and clove on the nose. On the palate the wine shows an earthy character with hints of white pepper spice. A soft tannic structure coupled with a touch of toasty oak, gives the wine an elegant finish. Aged in French and American oak barrels for 20 months, the wine displays a hint of toasty oak.
- Mike Lancaster, Winemaker

Downloads

• 2005 Petite Sirah Label (600k jpg file)

2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

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Harvest Dates: September 19, 2003
Average Degree Brix: 26
Bottling Date: September 2005
Release Date: December 2007
Blend: 98% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
2% Estate Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot
pH at Bottling: 3.38
TA: 0.54 g/100ml
Alcohol: 14.8%
Aging: 22 months in 100% French oak barrels
Fermentation: Closed top, aerative pump-overs.
Skin Contact: 45 days (alcoholic fermentation and extended maceration)
Racked: 5 times previous to bottling.
Total Cases: 1100 750 ml

Winemaker Notes

This wine shows a dark ruby color... the bouquet has a definitive cassis aroma with hints of blackberry. The mouth feel is rich and full with continued nuances of cassis and chocolate through the mid-palate. The wine finishes cleanly with red berries, licorice, a hint of tobacco and velvety smooth tannins. The 2003 vintage is well suited for aging.

Downloads

• 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Technical Notes
• 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Label

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon

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Harvest Dates: September 16, 2002
Average Degree Brix: 25
Bottling Date: August 2004
Release Date: TBD
Blend: 97% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Estate Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot
pH at Bottling: 3.38
TA: 0.54 g/100ml
Alcohol: 14.2%
Aging: 22 months in 100% French oak barrels
Fermentation: Closed top, aerative pump-overs.
Skin Contact: 45 days (alcoholic fermentation and extended maceration)
Racked: 5 times previous to bottling.
Total Cases: 990 750 ml • 15 1.5 L

Winemaker Notes

This wine shows a dark ruby color... the bouquet has a definitive cassis aroma with hints of blackberry. The mouth feel is rich and full with continued nuances of cassis and chocolate through the mid-palate. The wine finishes cleanly with red berries, licorice and velvety smooth tannins. The 2002 vintage is well suited for aging. - Cécile Lemerle-Derbes, Winemaker

Downloads

• 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Technical Notes (628k pdf file)
• 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Label (599k jpg file)

2004 Zinfandel

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Harvest Dates: August 30, 2004
Harvest Sugar: 26.0
Bottling Date: August 29, 2006
Release Date: September 1, 2007
Blend: 100% Zinfandel
pH: 3.57
TA: .63g/L
Alcohol: 15.5%
Aging: Aged 15 months in 37% New French and American oak (half French, half American)
Fermentation: Small stainless steel tank, pumped over twice daily
Racked: Twice during the aging process
Cases: 1100

Winemaker Notes

The 2004 Collier Falls Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley has a deep brick red color with aromas of strawberry and cherries on the nose. Aged in French and American oak, this wine shows hints of spice on the palate and finishes with a touch of toasty vanilla from the new oak barrels. Drink now and enjoy for the next six to eight years. - Mike Lancaster, Winemaker

Accolades for our 2004 Zinfandel

• Trophy Prize - Best Zinfandel
  Best of Show and Best of Class
  Best Varietal - Double Gold
  Jerry Mead New World International Wine Competition
• Gold Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
• 90 points - Wine Spectator
  Offers enticing roasted licorice and plum aromas, with dried cherry and cracked pepper flavors and layered but rustic forest-floor tannins. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases made. — J.L., Wine Spectator Feb. 2008

Downloads

• 2004 Zinfandel Technical Notes
• 2004 Zinfandel Label

2003 Zinfandel

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Harvest Dates: September 26, 2003
Average Degree Brix: 26.4
Bottling Date: February 2005
Release Date: TBD
Blend: 93% Estate Zinfandel, 7% Primitivo
pH at Bottling: 3.50
TA: 0.58 g/ml
Alcohol: 15.5%
Aging: 15 months in barrel
33% in new oak, French & American
Fermentation: Closed top, aerative pumped overs.
Racked: 5 times previous to bottling.
Total Cases: 1,500

Winemaker Notes

"This wine shows off a deep, intense red color. The bouquet reflects hints of rose petals and violets with fruit notes of cherry and raspberries. On the palate, the mouthfeel is full, highlighted by silky vanilla and butterscotch flavors. This is an elegant zinfandel with a moderately long cellar life. Drink now through 2012." - Cécile Lemerle-Derbes, Winemaker

Accolades for our 2003 Zinfandel

• Gold - Orange County Fair
• Gold - North of the Gate
• Gold -San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
• Gold - San Francisco International Wine Competition
• “...a complete wine... a little cloud of Zinfandel heaven.”
  - Thom Elkjer, WineCountry.com, August 9, 2007
• “This is stunning proof that Dry Creek Valley is the home of great Zinfandel. For the last decade, Barry and Susan Collier have made a name for themselves with polished Zins with dazzling cherry, raspberry, rose petal and creamy vanilla flavors.”
  - Peter Marks, Copia
• 87 points - “Sweet, mildly vanillin oak and hints of dry cocoa sit to the side of berry-like fruit in the nicely defined wine, and the same mix of berries, oak and soft chocolate is at the center of this ripe and rounded Zinfandel's flavors.”
  - Connoisseur's Guide January 2007
• “Elegant. Notes of cherry, raspberry, blackberry, herbs and spices. ”
  - Press Democrat, January 2007

Downloads

• 2003 Zinfandel Technical Notes (490k pdf file)
• 2003 Zinfandel Label (325k jpg file)