Pick My Next Bottle – 2017 Old Vine Zinfandel

The July Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2017 Old Vine Zinfandel. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened this Saturday and a Bottle Note will be published early next week.

2017 was a challenging vintage for Zinfandel. Unusually hot weather and wildfires in October led to a vintage of variable quality. 2017 also pales compared to the exceptional 16’s and 18’s. Most 17’s are better consumed in the near term.

The Contenders:

• 2017 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch – The 2017 Zinfandel Papera Ranch comes from a site close to the Mancini Ranch and vines planted in 1934. Notes of plums, blueberries, violets, and earthy, herbal notes all flow to a full-bodied, incredibly deep, layered and concentrated 2017 that certainly makes the most of the vintage. With ripe tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, no hard edges, and flawless balance, it’s another gem in the vintage. 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck.
• 2017 Ridge Vineyards Geyserville – The 2017 Geyserville is a blend of 68% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet, aged 14 months in American oak, 16% new. Medium ruby, it opens with lilac, chocolate box and stone fruit hints with warm blackcurrants, red and black cherries, cranberries, cedar, tobacco leaf and dusty earth. Medium to full-bodied, it opens slowly in the mouth to pure fruits supported by fine, chalky tannins and integrated freshness on the very long finish. 94 points from Wine Advocate.
• 2017 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard – This comes from the oldest vineyard Turley works with, planted in 1885. Deep ruby in color, the 2017 Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard has a youthfully coiled nose of cinnamon toast, ripe black and brambly fruits, licorice and exotic spice. Medium to full-bodied, it has tart peachy fruit in the mouth accenting the dense brambly fruit, framed by grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and layered. 94 points from the Wine Advocate.

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Thanks for voting! I’d love to see a comment below on why you picked one bottle over another. Also, let me know if you have any suggestions for the August installment of Pick My Next Bottle.