Unapologetically Zin

Boldly Delicious!

You know, sometimes Zinfandel gets a bad rap. But really, Zin's just trying to Zin, it's what Zin does. Sometimes it's a bit much but, if you're staring down a plate of ribs, maybe a bit much is just what the doctor ordered. Who are we to judge? Therefore, we give you Unapologetically Zin, where we let Old Vine Zin do its thing. 

Tasting Notes

Here you'll find jammy aromas of blackberry, raspberry, boysenberry and cherry, as well as black pepper, cloves, anise and herbs. Behold rich, fruit-forward flavors of the same realm, with a tobacco spice tannin profile, a touch of sweetness, and the perfect amount of acidity to temper rich foods. 

Winemaking Notes

The Zinfandel base of this wine is from a dry-farmed, head-trained ancient Zinfandel vineyard. The Zinfandel cofermented with a touch of Petite Sirah to produce a suitably bold, full-bodied wine. The wine aged in 100% American Oak for 18 months to let the tannins soften just enough.

Food Pairing

Pair this wine with all of your favorite indulgent foods, and don't skimp on the BBQ sauce! Juicy burgers with so many fixins. Or, all the barbecue, with a side of coleslaw and beans. Try it with Moroccan or Turkish spiced dishes. Unapologetically vegetarian? Stuffed bell peppers, zucchini or loaded sweet potatoes with lots of spice do the trick. 

About the Vines

This Zinfandel grew in a vineyard in Fair Play, El Dorado planted in 1972. That makes these vines 49 years old, right at the cusp of the 50-year mark where vines are generally considered to be old vines. These are gnarly head trained vines with thick trunks and bushy growth versus the more modern style of vineyard management where vines are trained along trellising in neat rows. Head trained vines tend to have less homogenous ripening, so we end up with a range of ripeness when we harvest these zinfandel grapes which actually works great to give this wine more complexity. The result is, of course, delicious. 

Ratings

90 Points, Wine Enthusiast

90 Points, San Francisco Chronicle 2023 Wine Competition