| Rating | 95 |
| Style | Red |
| Variety | Zinfandel |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Appellation |
Contra Costa San Francisco Bay Central Coast California USA |
| ABV | 14.5% |
| Price | $22.00 |
| Print Shelf Talker | |
| Reviewed By | |
| Reviewed | 2026-10-20 |
Perfect For
Drinking Outside the Lines, House Wine, Impressing On A Budget
Cline Family Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2024 Review
This wine comes from a disappearing AVA. Contra Costa Valley is there, but the threat of urban development is real because of its proximity to the San Francisco Bay. For wine historians and preservationists, this land is part of America's deep wine history. Most of the vines here are 100 to 140 years old, first planted in the mid-19th century. Bottles are on the market right now from vineyards that no longer exist.
Families like the Clines, among others, are trying to keep this vineyard land alive with bottles like the Ancient Vines Zinfandel. It captures the history of how we became a wine-drinking culture and is a worthy purchase to help preserve our viticultural history. The Zin grapes are sourced from a vineyard located on the sandy banks of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, with some vines reaching well over 100 years old. The result is a wonderfully concentrated wine, with impressively rich character for its under-$25 price point. It has a savory nose with blackberry and tea notes. It also has a hint of aged balsamic and vanilla bean. The palate is delicious and juicy, with soft fruit supported by medium acidity. This is a wine you should buy a lot of and have on hand to impress your friends with awesome American win
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