Winemaker Notes
Salvador Vineyard in Contra Costa County is a paragon of old vine Zinfandel. These organically-farmed vines were planted on their own roots in 1896. The roots are free to roam deeply as the soil is solid sand for 40 feet down. The wine is stunning: suave, complex and powerfully elegant.
The Salvador feels like truly old-school California, reminiscent of what wine might’ve tasted like when it was first made from these vines well over 120 years ago! The nose pulls you in with aromas of peach fuzz, purple flowers and dark berry fruits. Salvador is instantly pleasing on the palate thanks to the lush, supple tannins that can only come from a vineyard of this age planted so deeply in these Delhi blow sandy soils.
Downright delicious straight out of the gate, but all that old-vine intensity and structure along with the fruit’s bracing acidity means this wine will age excellently, if you’re so inclined.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a site that may soon be lost to housing development, the 2016 Zinfandel Salvador Vineyard is a lovely wine, bursting with scents of ripe cherries, cassis, plums and a subtle framing of oak. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated on the palate, it displays considerable density and depth, with an ample core of sweet, juicy fruit, framed by satiny tannins.
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Wine Spectator
Appealingly rustic, yet vibrant and focused, with wild berry, dried sage and green peppercorn flavors that finish with zesty tannins. Drink now through 2025.
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.
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.