Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Old and cranky? Some ancient vines simply become unproductive and have to be replanted, but not these 124-year-old vines! 93 year old Jessie gives these guys tender loving care and the resulting yield, though probably quite low, are amazingly fine. The 2013 Rock Wall Wine Company Jesse's Vineyard Zinfandel shows up with well-tempered mature flavors that only come with age-worthy vines. This is a high-powered wine with that is incredibly palatable, perfect with a grilled well-marbled rib eye of beef. Medium ruby color; quite attractive in the aromas, lots of red berries and some black earth and dried tea leaves, lively and fresh, fine depth; full bodied, fine style on the palate, good liveliness here; dry, medium acidity, well balanced; bright red fruit flavors, berries-a-plenty; medium finish. (Tasted: May 4, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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 Northern California appellation centered on the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Bay AVA falls within the larger Central Coast AVA. The smaller appellations of Livermore Valley, Pacheco Pass, San Ysidro District and Santa Clara Valley AVAs fall within the San Francisco Bay boundaries, and all produce high-quality Central Coast wines.