By Seghesio Family Vineyards
2014 Old Vine Zinfandel

Old Vines
Our Old Vine Zinfandel blends vineyards planted on the Dry Creek bench and the cooler southwest Alexander Valley. Although "old vine" is often loosely interpreted in the wine industry, our benchmark is a minimum of 50 years. However, the average age of our vines is approximately 70 years old. True old vine Zinfandel is distinguished by head-trained vines with thick, gnarled trunks, and is planted with ancient clones dating back to the turn of the century.

Vineyards
This wine comes from the old head-pruned vineyards in Alexander and Dry Creek valleys farmed by the multi-generational Passalacqua and Saini families for Seghesio. The older vines' de-vigorized root system produces less, yet more intense fruit highlighting Zinfandel's briary spice characteristic.

Vintage
2014 was one of the warmest growing seasons on record in Northern California. Rain in late-March paved the way for available water through bud break and bloom, but sustained warm weather coupled with depleted water reserves culminated with a slightly early, furiously paced compact harvest that was completed before the end of September.

Vineyard Regimen
Our standard, rigorous farming protocol was performed: shoot suckering, canopy leafing, weak shoot fruit removal, removal of all touching clusters, veraison thinning, and, finally, a post-veraison touch-up pass.

Fermentation Regimen
Small-lot, open-top fermenters with punch-down maceration by hand. Total maceration time is nine days. The free run wines were barreled down to complete primary fermentation and undergo malolactic fermentation in barrel. The lots were racked twice prior to bottling.

Food Pairings
Smoked chicken thighs or pork tenderloin with an herb sauce, steak au poivre, and creamy blue cheese.

Tasting Notes
Deeply perfumed aromas of raspberry and old vine Zin's intrinsic briary spiciness. Layered bright fruit flavors reminiscent of a cherry pie with a graham cracker crust. Old vine Zinfandel's complex spice undertones. Low yields in the vineyard preserved the vibrant natural acidity and balanced tannins. Long, persistent finish.

Wine Details
Harvest Date: Hand-harvested between Aug. 27-Sept. 24, 2014
Average Brix at Harvest: 26.2 degrees
Barrel Regimen: Barrel aged 14 months in 20% new French oak and neutral barrels that are a mixture of French, American, and Hungarian oak
Case Production: 10,720
Varietal Composition: 92% Zinfandel, 8% Petite Sirah
Alcohol: 14.80%
Release Date: September 2016
[Information provided by Crimson Wine Group]

2014 Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel Sonoma County - 92
The 2014 Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel is a blend of grapes from Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley vineyards. It is endowed with pure raspberry and plum aromas on the nose. On the palate is has a velvet texture, pure and elegant with a soft mouth feel and perfect balance. It has round tannins, some underbrush and a long finish.

SEGHESIO Zinfandel Sonoma County Old Vine 2014
Score: 91
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma, California
Issue: May 31, 2017
Dense and rustic, with no shortage of personality. Aromas of dried cherry and smoky herb lead to dense flavors of briary plum, licorice and spiced sage. The tannins show roughness around the edges. Best from 2018 through 2025. -TF