"It is sweetly fruited and generously expressed on the nose showing blackberry, plum jam, vanilla and roasted hazelnut characters with subtle dried herb complexity. The palate delivers excellent fruit intensity and weight, wonderfully complemented by velvety mouthfeel and silky tannins, finishing long and delicious. At its best: now to 2021" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, May 2019

"This full-bodied wine is saturated with berry and bramble flavors, pushing the edge of sweetness. It’s big and mouthfilling, but light on tannins, giving a jammy sensation that's supplemented by traces of dried sage and black pepper" Wine Enthusiast 2019

Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel is made using grapes sourced from gnarled 35-80 year old head-trained vines. As some of the oldest vines in California, the fruit produced is exceptional, intense and full-flavored. This intrepid Old Vine Zinfandel has a gnarly core of jammy blackberry and black cherry flavors with hints of black pepper, balanced by complex American and French oak toast. 

Lodi winemakers reported the 2017 vintage was ideal for producing high quality, elegant wines, and deep colors. Fruit development from bud break through berry set progressed at a moderate pace, allowing the resulting fruit to be packed with brilliant, concentrated flavors.

Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel is crafted using grapes from select vineyards throughout the Lodi region, known as the “Zin-famous” appellation. Lodi has an ideal climate for growing exceptional grapes – warm summer days and cool nighttime breezes from the ocean, in addition to sandy, well-draining soil. Our grapes are hand selected primarily from the Mokelumne River region, home to some of the oldest and most respected vineyards in Lodi.

Older vines produce fewer grape clusters, but the small berries yield intense, concentrated flavors. Grapes were hand-harvested in the cool of the night then delivered to the winery to be destemmed and gently pressed into fermentation tanks. After several days of fermentation, the wine was gently racked onto a combination of American and French oak for malolactic fermentation and aging.

Food Pairing: Try pairing this bold wine with braised short ribs, chicken enchiladas or dark chocolate.