SOLD OUT! When it comes to Red Zin, it doesn’t get much better than the 2015 Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel. This veteran producer never misses the mark with their bold and robust Zins, and this one is in prime drinking condition. Rated 94 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and 93 points by the Wine Spectator, I’m offering this one up at one of the best prices in the country.
2015 Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel
94 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 94 points Jeb Dunnuck, 93 points Wine Spectator, 93 points James Suckling
SOLD OUT!
As you can see from the picture, this is not the “regular,” blue label Seghesio Zinfandel. We like and stock that one too, but this is a step up in quality for sure. Composed of grapes from the Dry Creek bench and the cooler, southwestern part of Alexander Valley, the minimum age of vines here is 50 years. But the average age is actually 70+ years.
“Old Vine” is often loosely interpreted at other wineries, but it certainly is not at Seghesio. True old vine Zinfandel is distinguished by head-trained vines with thick, gnarled trunks and vineyard planted with ancient clones dating back to the turn of the century. These old, gnarled vines yield wines with intense, concentrated aromas and flavors.
When my distributor put this one on sale and offered me a 7 case allocation, I jumped on it immediately. I’ve always loved this wine for its combination of rich and spicy flavors and zesty acidity. And the 2015, with a few years of “bottle conditioning,” is drinking like a dream. It’s rare that so many reviewers score a wine as consistently as this one, but they all got it right. See reviews below.
94 points Jeb Dunnuck: “Plums, blackberries, cedary spice, and peppery herb notes all emerge from the 2015 Zinfandel Old Vine, a straight-up classic expression of this variety. More tobacco and cigar notes develop with time in the glass. It’s medium to full-bodied, has plenty of tannins, and is beautifully balanced. It will keep for a decade.”
94 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “Medium to deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Zinfandel Old Vine offers a beguiling nose of crushed blueberries, Black Forest cake and crème de cassis with hints of dried roses, licorice, incense and tilled soil. Full-bodied, rich and with wonderful purity, it has an amazing frame of ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.”
93 points James Suckling: “There’s a rich and convincing air to the nose with ripe red and dark berries, nicely threaded with toasty and spicy-oak influence. The palate has a very smooth and defined feel with impressive tannin grain and a long, even-paced finish. 92% zinfandel, 7% petite sirah and 1% alicante bouschet.”
93 points Wine Spectator: “Thoroughly old-school, offering briary cherry aromas and evocative raspberry, cracked pepper and dusty sage flavors that finish with zesty tannins.”
Sounds good right? And trust me, it is! But those 7 cases are not going to last long, and that’s all I was able to secure. Act fast or forever hold your peace.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville