California Old Vine

Matt Cline was on his second beer after a scorching day in the old sandy soil vineyards of Oakley, California when we called. There wasn’t much small talk. We had just sold out his 2007 Petit Sirah too quickly, leaving behind a disappointed batch of customers. We told him we needed a makeup, and this time he couldn’t limit us to 250 cases. We had already decided on the stunning, voluptuous 2007 Old Vines Zinfandel, made from a blend of 84 year-old vine sandy soil plantings, but this time we made him agree that no one who ordered in the first 36 hours would be disappointed.

What’s so special about Matt’s Old Vines Zinfandel? It’s a combination of the incredibly voluptuous, spicy-fruit qualities that come from 84 year-old Zinfandel vines, and the brightness and freshness provided by the sand soil.

Tasting Notes

“Deep purple color to the edge. Ripe, primary nose of concentrated blueberries and benchmark Zinfandel spice. Dense and concentrated on the palate, but with fine layers of minerality (the Delhi sand) sneaking through. Fine structure in the finish with plenty of cut to balance the richness. Drink now for the sheer primary fruit pleasure or age for up to 5 years.”

–WineAccess, August 2008