Old Vine Zinfandel

Brawny in style, this ripe, densely packed wine shows old-vine personality in its mix of leather saddle, black pepper and cinnamon notes that permeate through the baked cherry and plum core. Powdered tannins lend texture and give it complexity and weight.

(2013) A lot of estate fruit, but also from leased vineyards, the benchmark is an average of 50-year-old vines, some from the 1920s, and some of them dry farmed bush vines. Mostly Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. There's an extra creaminess on the nose of this wine, with an extra degree of lift too, a floral touch and pepper and spice too, as well as the suave black fruit. The palate has supple textural richness, with plenty of rich fruit intensity and creamy sweetness, the fresh black cherry skin juiciness and tart nip of acidity adding delicious bite, a nice natural energy about this.