Monday, December 27, 2010

Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma County Old Vine, 2001

We enjoyed Christmas day at home, just the two of us. For dinner we had a herb-crusted rack of lamb, creamy cheese polenta and oven roasted brussel sprouts. We pulled two special wines from the cellar… wow… they were worth the wait, we had the Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma County Old Vine, 2001 and the Columbia Crest Reserve Syrah, 2001. It was a merry Christmas! Both wines were delicious and great with our holiday meal, however, the Seghesio Old Vine Zin was a knockout. The Seghesio family planted their first Zinfandel vineyard in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley back 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. Today winemaker Ted Seghesio produces exceptional Zinfandel and other Italian varietals in their Healdsburg winery in the heart of Sonoma’s wine country. This wine was selected for the Wine Spectator “Top 100” list in 2003. The color is a deep ruby, nearly opaque, with a crimson rim. The nose has an alluring bouquet packed with blackberry, cherry, minerals, truffles, dried herbs and toasty oak. This is a full-bodied wine with gobs of spicy black fruits flavors firmed by solid tannins and lifted by gentle minerality. Toasty vanilla, exotic spices and hints of cocoa contribute to a very long finish. This Seghesio Zinfandel is an incredibly delicious, full-bodied wine with gorgeous clarity, great complexity and definition. This is one of the best wines we have enjoyed this year!