Red - Zinfandel

Now in their 25th bottling of ‘Old Vines’ Zinfandel they realize this wine is not only about an enjoyment of the senses but also a tribute to the magical old vines located around them in California. The 2019 Old Vines Zinfandel is sourced from two incredible old vine vineyards. The main source comes from old friends, the Luvisi family, whose grapes were planted in 1908 and has been the building block of our Old Vine Zinfandel since the beginning. The second vineyard is the historic Del Barba vineyard located in the delta town of Oakley and has own-rooted, dry farmed Zin grapes that were planted in 1910. This 2019 vintage wine displays the classic aromas of old vine zinfandel. It is very aromatic with notes of ripe boysenberries, blackberry pie, licorice, cinnamon, and sweet spices. On the palate, it is flashy and expressive with flavors of wild berries, currant, and mocha. This multi-dimensional, complex Zin exhibits unparalleled flavor concentration and character. Each vineyard block was harvested and fermented separately.250 cases

I am always impressed by what people did before the wine world.  Here’s two sisters – Mary and Nadine Roy who owned and operated a radiology business in Illinois and now have been running Capo Creek Ranch for the last 4 years. Mary Roy is the mother of six and previous owner/lead physician of Midwest Center for Advanced Imaging, specializing in MRI and Women’s Imaging. Nadine Roy was a co-owner and executive director of that business and has now been certified as a sommelier and works alongside her sister, the winemaker. 

This estate old vine zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley is full of juicy fruit flavors dominated by dark cherry, black raspberry & pomegranate. Red licorice and a touch of spice from choice oak barrels balance it nicely and adds a complexity that makes every sip a delight. 350 cases produced.

Gold Medal in the 2021 SF Chronicle National Wine Competition

The name of the Carol Shelton Karma Zinfandel 2016 was bestowed in gratitude for the many gifts of good Karma received in life, whatever the source.  When positive energy is put forth in hard work mixed with integrity, the giver is rewarded with success, the fulfillment of a dream. Quite lively and fragrant with ripe blueberry, raspberry and blackberry fruits, tart pomegranate and red Jolly ranchers! Cedar box, brown spices- nutmeg/cinnamon, cherry cola, dark chocolate, a soft whiff of violets, creamy vanilla oak, kick of pepper spice. Very complexly layered weaving of fruit and spice, uber-dense and deep—wow! Rich in mouth, bright berry fruit tang like a wonderful berry cobbler, good structure for aging, a bit chewy in its youth. 235 cases produced.

77% Zinfandel blended with 12% Alicante Bouschet, 8% Petite Sirah 3% Carignane

Gold Medal

The Carol Shelton Old Vine Mendocino Zinfandel 2017 is a treasure. Grown on the benchlands and slopes of mountainsides — this 60 plus year old vine Zinfandel was named for these wild- looking vines and also for the uninoculated, or “wild,” yeast ferment that was used to create it. Aromas of black cherry, ripe plum and raspberry fruit combine with a hint of graphite, cigar box, and vanilla-oak baking spice loveliness. Smoothly textured in mouth, and the palate is very creamy and round, with a finish that is long with lush jammy fruit. 78% Old Vine Zinfandel, 14% old vine Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah

The Heart Arrow ranch is one of the finest biodynamic farms in Mendocino County—a completely self-contained ecosystem where not only grapes but vegetables, fruit-trees, pigs, cows, lambs, and chickens all make a self-sustaining microcosm without herbicides or pesticides. The combination of these farming techniques and Dashe Cellars winemaking techniques work to make this an unusual Zinfandel, one that is very different in aroma, flavor, and structure than a classic California Zinfandel, and more like a wine from Burgundy or Beaujolais. How is this wine different? First of all, they don’t crush the grapes but instead use whole clusters and uncrushed destemmed grapes to create a “carbonic maceration” style of wine. They ferment the wine with the native yeasts on the grapes; age the wine in a huge 900 gallon French oak barrel; and bottle the wine with low SO2 levels.
It is extremely aromatic – black cherry, pomegranate, earth, violets, clove, and black pepper. The Dashe Cellars Zinfandel 2017 Les Enfants Terribles, Heart Arrow Ranch, Mendocino shows excellent fruit and mineral aromas, and the wine has an absolutely beautiful texture and depth of flavor. Enjoy the flavors of black cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, black raspberry, chocolate, minerals, and black pepper. Although this wine is beautiful to drink right now, it can improve with age as well, at least 8 years from the vintage date.

Korte Ranch is located just north of the town of St. Helena along the Napa River on Ehlers Lane. It is truly one of the most distinctive and classic Zinfandel vineyards left in Napa Valley with the vines that Elyse Winery sources from being a minimum of 70 years old. It has been family owned for four generations and was a bonded winery before prohibition. The gnarly old head trained, dry farmed vines are planted where the eastern and western hillsides meet. This beautiful property is perfectly suited for high quality grape growing from the cool morning and nighttime temperatures to the loose soils of rocky loam which help make wine of unique and bold character. The Elyse Zinfandel 2016, Korte Ranch is beautifully deep garnet colored with intriguing aromas of black plum, blackberry pie, caramel, cinnamon, galangal root, incense, clove and orange zest. Lavishly textured with generous flavors of sweet blackberry, blueberry, cassis and the slightest hint of cracked black pepper and spice. Smooth entry with a broad mouthfeel, rich fruit and well integrated tannins lead to a finish that is long and lingering. 92 Points Wine Enthusiast. 1165 cases made.

The wine has a dark cherry color, with a light garnet rim. Aromatic rose petal, blackberry, cola, and licorice scents are enhanced by a touch of cedar and black peppercorn. Ripe, fruity, black raspberry, plum, and rhubarb flavors are heightened by notes of anise seed, black truffle, and toasty oak. Expect perfumed forward fruit thru 2020, then a deeper, almost Gigondas-like wine in the decade to follow. 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Gold Medal.

Keenan’s 2019 Zinfandel is made up of grapes grown primarily on Keenan’s Spring Mountain District estate. The Estate Zinfandel imparts structure, ripe black fruit and complex earthy nuances. Zinfandel grown in Calistoga makes up the remainder of the blend and supplies spice and briary red fruit aromas.
“Dried fruit, such as cherries, together with spices, black pepper and rose petals. Medium-bodied and juicy with berries and dried orange peel. Real deal. Polished. Balanced. Mostly from their estate mountain vineyards with some carignan and alicante, which are co-fermented. Drink now.” – 94 Points – James Suckling. 355 cases produced.