Cline - Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2022 750ml

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2022 offers a rare taste of California winemaking history. This remarkable red wine comes from some of the oldest vines in the state. Growing in the deep sand soils of Contra Costa County near the river delta, these dry farmed vines are over one hundred years old. Because they grow in sand, they actually survived both crop disease and Prohibition. Today, these historic plants produce fruit with incredible concentration that younger vines simply cannot match.

The winemaking team treats this historic fruit with great care to preserve its intense character. After a gentle crush leaves many berries whole, the juice ferments in open top concrete tanks. This process extracts rich color and pure flavor. Finally, the wine ages for sixteen months in French oak barrels. This step adds polish without hiding the explosive fruit core.

In the glass, it delivers classic strawberry and ripe raspberry flavors framed by a smooth touch of vanilla. It is exceptionally fresh and well balanced, avoiding the heavy, sweet traps that catch many modern Zinfandels. Earning 95 points from Vinepair, this certified sustainable wine drinks beautifully right now but will easily age for another five to seven years. It is an outstanding value for anyone seeking an authentic, heritage red wine for the dinner table.