83% Zinfandel and 17% Petite Sirah from Russian River Valley, Sonoma County California.
SRP of $35 and available for around $30. Sample received courtesy Wine Guerrilla for review purposes.
From the bottle:
"Things were a little different when these vines were planted. There were no SUVs, only Model Ts. And if you saw an airplane pass overhead, it was likely the Wright Brothers. We think you'll find the bold flavors in this bottle nothing short of historic. A blend of 83% Zinfandel and 17% Petite Sirah. Unfiltered and unrefined.
14.9% Alcohol"
"Old Vines" -- certainly sounds appealing, but what does that mean anyway? In reality, there is no agreed upon definition of an "old vine". It depends on the region but typically somewhere north of 50 years is considered "old". (Today's wine comes from 100+ year old vines.)
But why does that matter anyway? Whether or not grapes from old vines make a better wine is open for debate, but old vines do have some different characteristics that could lead to a better (or at least a different) wine. The primary one is that just like any plant, the older it gets the deeper and more complex its root system becomes which allows it to thrive even in adverse conditions. This leads to a more consistent grape production each year.
In addition, as vines age they tend to produce less fruit but it is said that the grapes that remain have a higher concentration of flavor. After tasting today's wine, I'm a believer in that theory. The term big and bold is overused in wine writing so when you get a wine that really goes way beyond, describing it as big and bold just doesn't cut it. The 2009 Wine Guerrilla Forchini Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel Russian River Valley is a wine on overdrive. (Evidently the name of the wine gets longer as the vine ages also.) If you could add a turbo engine to wine, this is what you'd get.
The wine opens with very strong aromas of spice, dark fruit and licorice and it explodes with vibrant jammy fruit when tasting. It also features a good dose spice that helps to give it a lively mouthfeel. The primary flavors when tasting are cranberry, raspberry, blackberry and sour cherry. The finish on the Forchini Vineyards Zin is very long with lots of fruit and another good burst of peppery spice. This one mellowed out a bit on day 2. It is also unfiltered so you may want to filter it when pouring to remove the sediment.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
