Cline Cellars, Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2019 Cline Cellars

Get to know: Cline Cellars, Ancient Vines Zinfandel

Tasting Note

Ripe, wild strawberries with coffee and chocolate characters. Ripe vanilla laced fruit combines with soft tannins and a lovely balanced acidity. Very more-ish and surprisingly elegant.

Try with rich beef stews and creamy poultry dishes.

Producer Info

Cline Cellars is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Sonoma’s Carneros Valley. Established in 1982 by Fred Cline, a descendant of Italian US settlers, he originally founded the winery in Oakley, Contra Costa County, cultivating Rhône varieties and Zinfandel on vines dating back to 1906.In the 1990s, the family moved their winemaking operation to a 350 acre ranch in Carneros Valley, adopting sustainable farming in 2000, and building the largest solar panelled winery in California. While others in California were focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Fred Cline saw the potential of Rhône varieties and Zinfandel in his vineyards and continues to produce focussed, terroir-driven wines.

Grapes were harvested from a wide selection of Clines oldest, most historic and shyest-bearing Zinfandel blocks in Contra Costa County. These 100 year old, dry-farmed vineyards consistently produce fruit of stunning concentration. Lots were harvested separately according to ripeness and balance of acidity. Grapes underwent near total destemming and a very gentle crushing to ensure a large proportion of whole berries in the must — contributing to the explosive fruit character of the wine. The grapes, juice, skins, and seeds along with some added yeasts were fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks at the optimum temperature to extract rich flavors and provide excellent colour. The wine was pressed off its skins at dryness and racked gently before being laid down on American oak (38% new) for 10 months.

This wine is suitable for consumption by Vegetarians and Vegans.