Cline Old Vine Zinfandel
You might have heard of the town of Lodi, California. It is famous for the Zinfandel grape variety.
Lodi is located between the San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Cline Cellars, established in 1982, sources the best quality Zinfandel grapes from Lodi.
Tasting this Cline Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi California, I am amazed at its affordable price in terms of the quality of the Zinfandel wine.Tasting this Cline Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi California, I am amazed at its affordable price in terms of the quality of the Zinfandel wine.
From a chat with a sales representative from the company, I discovered why. The key reason is that Lodi produces a lot of wine. Therefore, brands must be competitive.
It is also important to know that Cline makes several types of Zinfandel wine.
This Old Vine Zinfandel is delicious, but it is from an assortment of Old Vine vineyards. Single vineyard Cline Lodi Old Vine vineyards are more expensive.
You can purchase this in a wine shop, from their tasting room or from their Cline Cellars wine club.
Cline Old Vine Zinfandel: About the Zinfandel Grape Variety
In Lodi, the most popular variety is Zinfandel. We know it for robust reds with flavors of berries and spice.
Cline Old Vine Zinfandel has these delicious flavors, and more!Cline Old Vine Zinfandel has these delicious flavors, and more!
As a student of wine, I learned to know the characteristics of the Zinfandel grape when blind tasting.
Also, I discovered when blind tasting if a wine tastes a bit like Pinot Noir because of its berry fruit, consider Zinfandel. Zinfandel is typically higher in alcohol and deeper than most Pinot Noir.
Cline Old Vine Zinfandel – Lodi
Lodi is well suited for the growing of the Zinfandel grape, Yet in Lodi, you will find many Rhone Valley varieties represented. The reason is that the intense heat is beneficial to ripening. Sometimes Zinfandel can be very high in alcohol for this reason.
Another reason for excellent Zinfandel in Lodi is because of the unique terroir. Many Old Vine Zinfandel vineyards in Lodi feature un-grafted, un-trellised vines, which can give more concentrated wine.
And then there is the all important “location” factor. There are seven different sub-appellations in Lodi.
The older vineyards are also close to the banks of the Mokelumne River AVA. Here the soil is fine sandy loam.
Mokelumme River AVA is also the historical center of the Lodi wine-growing region.
Cline Old Vine Zinfandel: The True Old West “California Native Variety”
Zinfandel is the perfect California grape that reflects the spirit of the Old West.
When you visit, you are certain to see men wearing actual cowboy hats and boots.
Cline Cellars Old Wine Zinfandel is also an “American classic” is because it’s still family owned.
This is a rarity in this era of industrial-sized wineries.
The winery is also sustainable, so you can feel good about drinking it.
Then again, when you reach for Zinfandel you “show the love” for a real, identifiable varietal – an aroma, taste, and style of wine with an identity all its own, instead of an anonymous “red blend.”
Unofficial Zinfandel Capital of the World
The cool thing about Lodi is its reputation as the unofficial “Zinfandel Capital of the World.”
Zinfandel the primary grape grown. Most vines are “head trained.”
When you visit, you will see vines planted low in the deep sandy. The age of the vines also results in more concentration of rich jammy fruit in the wine. This is a signpost of quality.
This is a signpost of quality.
As I taste the Cline Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel wine, it is delicious. I love the rich texture and spicy flavors.
The wine has intense aromatics and great jammy concentration of fruit. I also detect the delicious zing of cinnamon and toasty oak. I could not believe it is only $10.99.
It’s a rich substantial wine that pairs best with food like braised beef. Yet you will find many recipes to pair with Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel on this page from the Cline Cellars website
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About Author Marisa D’Vari
D’Vari contributes to Forbes.com, Financial Times, World of Fine Wine, Quarterly Review of Wine, Decanter Robb Report, San Francisco Chronicle, South China Morning Post, and more.
She holds the (WSET) diploma, Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Wine Educator through the Society of Wine Educators … to see it all, please click on bio
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