Winemaker Notes
Blend: 76% Old Vine Zinfandel, 15% old vine Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: 2017 Carol Shelton Wild Thing Zinfandel shows power with restrained. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers bright boysenberries in the aroma, and continues through its finish. Pair it with grilled hamburgers with pan-fried chiles. (Tasted: June 13, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
Very ripe and luscious, this full-bodied Zin oozes rich berry jam flavors on a smooth mouth filling texture that has a touch of good tannin for grip.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.