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Date Printed: 6/19/2013
Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel 2005
Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel 2005
 (search item no. 87646)

PRICE ON 6/19/2013: $10.49

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2010 Tasting Panel rating: 88 points

Winemaker's Notes:

 The 2005 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel is crafted from grapes from 35 to 80 year old vines. Rich, dark berry flavors from the small grape clusters are balanced with French, American and Hungarian oak, which creates layers of plum, pepper, cola and chocolate. This luscious combination provides a lingering and spicy finish. This wine pairs well with barbecue, pizza, hearty pastas, chili and ribs.
My Notes:

Additional wines from Gnarly Head:

About Gnarly Head:

 My first impression, as the truck pulled up to the eighty year old Zinfandel vineyards, was, "Wow, those vines sure have some gnarly heads!" Thus began a fifteen year love affair with the Old Vine Zinfandel.

The older Zin vineyards in California were planted before the use of modern trellising techniques and were "head pruned", meaning the shoots that eventually produce the grapes grow directly out of the head of the trunk. The resulting vines look more like a bush than the normally well-manicured rows of neatly trained along posts and wires – and they do have "Gnarly Heads".