Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel 2021
This is one of the strongest Old Vine Zinfandel bottlings that Bedrock has made to date albeit a slightly different blend composition due to one of Mother Nature’s curveballs. The main contrast this year is that one of usual main elements of the blend—Esola Vineyard from Amador County—was picked early for rosé to avoid potential smoke issues from nearby wildfires. As a result, the blend leans more heavily into fruit from Sonoma and Contra Costa counties.
Fruit from the great Teldeschi Ranch comprises just over 20% of the blend, followed by Beeson, Sodini, Nervo, Dommen, Pagani, Papera, Evangelho, Pato, Katushas’ and Bedrock. The finished blend is 85% Zinfandel with 7% Carignan, 4% Cinsault and bits and bobs of Grand Noir, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet and other field-blended varieties.
As usual, the average vine age is around 80 years old, which makes this truly an “old vine” cuvee. Bedrock's goal is always to make a wine that reflects what they love most about Zinfandel in California: to showcase its great fruit but also its spice, energy and freshness. Hailing from a drought year, this wine has an added degree of intensity to it that will make it great for early consumption or a little time sideways in the cellar.
Wine Spectator: 94 |
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Spry and briary, this Zinfandel is fun to drink, with lively black cherry, licorice and dried sage flavors, which take on richness and cracked pepper accents toward zesty tannins. |
Jeb Dunnuck: 92 |
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Most of the fruit for the 2021 Zinfandel Old Vine comes from Sonoma. Ripe ruby hued, the wine is fresh with ripe berries and white pepper spice, as well as roses. Medium-bodied, with good structure, fresh acidity, and fine tannins, it has a fully dry style. It is an outstanding value and would also be an outstanding wine to pour by the glass. Drink it over the next few years. |