Winemaker Notes
This Old Vine Zinfandel is sourced from ancient vines in Contra Costa County. This wine is a blend of 76% Zinfandel, 8% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, and 8% Alicante Bouschet. All the grapes in this blend come from vineyard blocks with extremely sandy loam soils. The soil type of our pre-Phylloxera vines is Delhi Sandy Loam.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
This full-bodied wine has a concentrated berry and cherry essence that makes it easy to sip and enjoy. A touch of raspberry in the aroma and a hint of baking spices on the palate make it all the more tasty.
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.