Ravenswood 'Old Vine' Sonoma County Zinfandel 2014 (California)

Description

This Sonoma County Zin is warm and flavourful, enveloping your senses with blueberry, blackberry, natural vanilla, and baking spice flavours. The mouthfeel is elegantly layered and generous.

On a fall day in 1976, as ravens taunted from tree branches above, Joel Peterson worked doggedly to bring in four tons of grapes before a looming thunderstorm hit. The fruit he crushed that night was used for one of two single-vineyard Sonoma County Zins – the first wines to bear Ravenswood’s signature ring of ravens. Ravenswood’s 'No Wimpy Wines' credo says it all – embrace the bold, abhor the bland.

This Zinfandel is made of a blend 77% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignane, 3% Mixed Blacks. These grapes were sourced from a variety of vineyards within Sonoma County including 33% Dry Creek, 27% Sonoma Valley, 25% Alexander Valley, 15% Russian River Valley. The vines have an average age of 50-100 years, which means older means more intense fruit flavours. Once in the winery native yeasts were used during fermentation, with 5–8 days of skin contact. Aging was over 18 months in French oak barrels (30% new). Great now or wait 5–7 years if you have the will power.

Food Pairing: Perfect with spare ribs or beef braised in red wine, and leg of lamb.