2018 Sidebar Old Vine Zinfandel [WA92-94][WE91]

Producer: Sidebar Cellars  
Region: Mokelumne River, Lodi, California 
Varietal: Zinfandel  
Year: 2018 

Retail Price: $26.00 
Our Price: $16.99* 

David Ramey is a California icon.  He honed his killer instincts at estates like Dominus and Chateau Petrus. He is widely acknowledged to be among the wine pioneers who brought California to the forefront of the wine world.  Ramey is one of the best known and most highly regarded winemakers in California.  Ramey started his Sidebar project to experiment with a wide array of lesser known grapes from obscure vineyards.  His goal is to make wines that are more causal and appealing.   He wanted to explore fun and diverse grape varieties unhampered by commercial considerations.  Production at Sidebar is often minuscule, less than 100 cases at times.  Sidebar wines are fresh and fruit forward, California in style and fun to drink.  The Old Vine Zinfandel is an introduction to the Mokelumne River AVA.  It was the first area in the Lodi region to be planted with vines, some of which are 130 years old.  The 2018 Sidebar Old Vine Zinfandel is an instant classic. It's dark and delicious.  This Zin is full bodied with a long, crisp finish.  It has notes of blueberry jam, black cherry, herbs, pepper and wood smoke.  This wine is smoky and spicy with a juicy acidity.  Enjoy! 

Wine Advocate, 92-94 Points 

"From Mokelumne River in Lodi and made of 100% Zinfandel, the barrel sample of 2018 Zinfandel has a nose of spiced black cherry, blueberry jam and potpourri with herbal and earth touches and peachy undertones. Medium to full-bodied, it offers great intensity of blue fruits in the mouth, with grainy framing tannins and great juicy acidity, finishing long with fruity and spicy layers. 1,120 cases are expected to be made." 

Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points 

"This smoky, spicy wine wraps potent blackberry flavors in black pepper, beef and wood smoke for a dark and delicious effect. It is full-bodied, moderately tannic and nicely concentrated." 

Winemaker Notes: 

"A concentrated and balanced old-vine Zin with pronounced black pepper from a historical Zinfandel growing region." -David Ramey

Alcohol: 14.5% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Vintage date may differ from pictured.