Friday, July 2, 2010

Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel, 2000


Zinfandel is a red grape variety that grows well in Sonoma County, California. Genetic tests have shown that Zinfandel is genetically equivalent to the Primotivo grape grown in southern Italy. Edoardo Seghesio planted his first Zinfandel vineyard in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley in 1895. Since then, four generations of the Seghesio family have tended over 400 acres of vineyards in Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. Back in 2003, this Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel was selected for Wine Spectators “Top 100 List”. We purchase a few bottles then, and tonight we decide to open one that had been in our cellar for the past 7 years. We remember enjoying this wine back in 2003, and we were excited to see what developed with 7 years in the cellar. I was hoping this wine would be a good companion for the Friday night Steak Dinner I was preparing. The wine has a dark red color with good clarity and a crimson rim. The nose is fragrant and complex with raspberry, cherry liquor, wet rock, oak and cinnamon. There is a full-throttle multilayer palate with red raspberry, ripe cherry, fig jam, caramel, vanilla and baking spice. The mouth feel is rich and elegant with a medium bodied frame supported by gentle tannins, sweet fruit and a long sappy finish. The complexity of flavors are delicious and this Zinfandel proved worthy of cellar aging. We purchased this Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel at Larry”s Market, in Bellevue, for about $20. We really enjoyed this wine with the lovely Hanger Steak, Balsamic Onions and Summer Vegetables.

2 comments:

Dr. Robert M. Oliva said...

I had this wine not long ago. I agree it is an excellent wine with very great complexity. I really enjoyed the full body and aromas.

Oss said...

Opened first of lot of 12 after stumbling on this blog. Thanks for a hint, it was rather nice ;)
And nice blog as well.

Cheers from Europe,
Oss