Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2024- Deep Flavors, Pricing Details, and Specs

As a sommelier with over 7 years of experience curating wine lists and advising clients on food and wine pairings, I am always seeking out distinctive expressions of classic varietals that offer depth and complexity. The Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2024 recently caught my attention for its wonderfully complex flavor profile that develops beautifully in the glass. As an authority on the wines of California, I was intrigued by the potential of these 120+-year-old vines grown in the vaunted Contra Costa region to produce a wine of balance, structure, and intrigue.

Initial Impressions

Upon opening a bottle, I was immediately struck by the heady aromas of ripe black cherry, raspberry, and sweet baking spices. As I tasted the wine, the initial bright red fruit notes gradually gave way to more savory elements of vanilla, mocha, and peppery spice. The tannins were supple and well-integrated, framing the rich fruit flavors and allowing them to linger on the palate.

Evolving Flavor Profile

What truly impressed me about this Zinfandel was how much the flavor profile continued to build and evolve throughout my tasting. As the wine opened up and interacted with air, previously hidden notes of anise, clove, and brambly blackberry emerged and intertwined with the sweeter flavors of vanilla and ripe plum. Subtle hints of cedar, tobacco leaf, and dark chocolate added further intrigue and depth.

Remarkable Finish

The finish showed remarkable length, with a minerality that spoke to the vine’s ancient roots drawing nutrients from the sandy loam soils of Contra Costa. Despite its 16.1% alcohol, the wine maintained vibrancy and balance thanks to bright acidity and restrained ripeness of fruit. This allowed the concentrated flavors to avoid becoming heavy or jammy.

Winemaking and Technical Details

As a Zinfandel specialist and wine judge, I always look for harmony and complexity when evaluating examples of this often over-ripe and overly alcoholic varietal. At its best, Zinfandel combines rich, mouth-coating fruit with savory, spicy elements and a backbone of fresh acidity. The Cline Cellars Ancient Vines 2024 hits all of these markers with aplomb. The ancient vines produce characterful, concentrated fruit that winemaker Charles Tsegeletos embraces through a gentle, hands-off approach in the cellar.

Winemaking Techniques

The resulting wine offers remarkable purity of fruit along with exotic spice notes that speak to the vineyard’s unique, sandy soils. Blackberry and raspberry mingle with anise, vanilla, and pepper in a seamless expression of this historic vineyard. The balance and complexity speak to the old, resilient vines and skilled local winemaking.

Pairing Suggestions

For fans of bold, fruit-forward wines with underlying complexity, the Cline Cellars 2024 Ancient Vines Zinfandel would make an excellent choice. As a sommelier, I would confidently recommend pairing it with:

• Grilled Steak: The smoky char of beef is a classic match for Cabernet. The wine’s herbal notes complement flavorful rubs and sauces.
• Pasta Bolognese: Cabernet has enough body and acidity to stand up to the rich umami tomato sauce and meatiness of this pasta dish.
• Lamb Stew: The red fruit, spice, and herbal flavors of this Cabernet beautifully match braised lamb dishes.
• Aged Cheddar: The smooth tannins and oak notes make this wine a nice match for the saltiness and nutty flavors of aged Cheddar cheese.
• Chocolate Cherry Desserts: Both the fruit flavors of the wine and the cocoa notes from oak aging pair deliciously with chocolate-covered cherry treats.

Aging Potential

While this Zinfandel still tastes quite young, I can envision the concentrated fruit melding beautifully with savory tertiary notes through another 3-5 years of bottle aging. For those seeking a window into Contra Costa’s Zinfandel glory days, the Cline Cellars Ancient Vines 2024 offers an impeccably balanced and nuanced expression of old vine concentration and spice. I highly recommend seeking out a bottle before this limited-production wine sells out. With only 350 cases produced, supplies likely won’t last long.

Value and Price

At a retail price of $38, I find this Zinfandel offers tremendous value. Similar Contra Costa wines often sell for well over $60 per bottle. Given the complexity and structure this wine displays, I would position it confidently against higher-priced Zinfandels in a blind tasting.

Key Specifications

Let’s now examine some key specs and technical details on the Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2024:

• Vineyard Source: Ancient Vines Zinfandel plantings in Contra Costa County, averaging 120 years old
• Winemaker: Charles Tsegeletos
• Production: 350 cases
• Aging: 16 months in neutral French oak barrels
• Alcohol: 16.1%
• Residual Sugar: 0.2%
• pH: 3.85
• Titratable Acidity: 6.1 g/L

As these specs indicate, winemaker Charles Tsegeletos embraces a balanced, old-world approach with this special Zinfandel. By aging the wine for over 15 months in neutral barrels, he allows for the purity of the fruit. The signature of the vineyard shines through rather than imposing excessive oak. The moderate alcohol level, brisk acidity, and negligible residual sugar suggest a style emphasizing elegance. It subtlety over sheer power and extraction.

Conclusion

The resulting wine offers a glimpse into the bygone era when Contra Costa County. It was known as the epicenter of California Zinfandel. These ancient, head-trained vines produce a small crop of concentrated, characterful fruit that allows the sandy soils and unique climate of the region to shine through.

By embracing this raw material through a deft, hands-off winemaking approach. Charles Tsegeletos has crafted an impeccably balanced Zinfandel that speaks eloquently of its ancient vines and storied terroir. For fans of California wine history or distinctive expressions of old-vine Zinfandel. The Cline Cellars Ancient Vines 2024 warrants close examination.

Sourced from vines that are old enough to be historical landmarks in their own right. This 120+-year-old vineyard in Contra Costa produces a Zinfandel of uncommon balance, complexity, and intrigue. As an award-winning sommelier and experienced wine judge. I highly recommend giving this special bottling from Cline Cellars your serious consideration.

Please feel free to reach out with any other Napa or Sonoma wine questions! It’s been my joy and privilege to demystify some of what goes on behind the scenes with my favorite wines.

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