A vanilla and chocolate soaked berry explosion, the Cosentino Winery Cigar Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi.
88% Zinfandel, 6% Petite Sirah, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot from Lodi, California. The wine was aged for 8 months, partially in French oak. It has 4.7 g/L of residual sugar.
Sample submitted for review. The Cigar Old Vine Zinfandel has an SRP of $20 and is available for as low as $14.
"My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the meantime intervals between them."
-- Winston Churchill15.5% Alcohol
The 2017 Cigar Old Vine Zinfandel has lots of things happening in the multi-faceted bouquet. Blackberry, plum, black cherry, vanilla, spice, cedar, licorice, black pepper and more all combine quite nicely. Taking a sip unveils a vanilla and chocolate soaked sweet berry fruit explosion. Notes of licorice, coffee and tobacco also come out under the fruit and are wrapped up in the smooth and rich mouthfeel. It's definitely a bit on the sweet side but like a lot of Zins it works with the bigness of the wine. Soft tannins lead into the surprisingly long finish that lives up to its name with some lingering tobacco notes. Something tells me the British Bulldog would approve of this wine heartily!
See a listing of local retailers selling the Cigar Old Vine Zinfandel here.