Monday, June 1, 2015

Dry Creek Vineyard 2013 Heritage Vines Zinfandel


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Smooth, delicious, inviting. The 2013 Heritage Vines Zinfandel from Dry Creek Vineyard is all that and more.

This wine comes from a project launched in the 1980s to preserve the tradition and heritage of old Zinfandel vineyards. Cuttings from pre-Prohibition era were grafted onto phylloxeria-resistant rootstock. In 1997, after years of work, the process concluded with a “young vine” that displayed “old vine” Zinfandel characteristics.

Old vines (generally considered 50 years or older) can produce exquisite Zinfandel with rich concentrated flavors. The 2013 Heritage Vines Zin offers a similar flavor profile at a very reasonable cost (only $20).

There are a multitude of Zinfandels coming out of California. They can range from inexpensive fruit bombs to more austere, earthy wines. Some of the best Zin comes from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma and Dry Creek Vineyard in particular.

We popped the cork on this as an after dinner wine during the work week. A few sips of this silky wine made it seem like a special occasion.

Balance is the key with this wine. Lush flavors of blackberry and cherry mingle with a smattering of spice. This is a medium to full-bodied wine with relaxed tannins.

This is one of the most enjoyable wines we’ve sipped in recent weeks. Add to it the great value and it is tasty indeed.

Full Disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

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