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Wine Details
Price:
$12.50 per bottle
Description:
Since its first release in 1999, Alden Ranch Zinfandel has gained notoriety as a whale of a zin. With more resemblance to port, the 2002 vintage stays true to its bloodline. Bright raspberry combines with toasted oak forming the core of the aromatics. Hints of peaches and nectarines add to the intensity of fruitiness as the aromas tiptoe toward caramel and butterscotch. Berry flavors intensify on the pallet with a lingering, tangy citrus finish. Like previous vintages it is great before dinner as an aperitif, on ice around the pool, or with a cheese plate and chocolate dessert just sitting by the fireplace. Careful consumption is recommended because the alcohol can creep up and bite your head the next morning.
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Varietal Definition
Zinfandel:
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California wine vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the 'heel' of Italy. It is typically made into a robust red wine. Its taste depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruits like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler areas such as the Napa Valley, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are more common in wines made in warmer areas such as Sonoma County. Many Zinfandels come from head pruned ‘Old Vines’. ‘Old Vine’ is generally understood to mean a vine that is more than 50 years old and that produces less than three tons per acre. ‘Head Pruning’ is an old European style of pruning that trains the vine into the shape of a goblet. It requires no wires or other complex trellis systems. Head pruning spreads the fruit uniformly along the vine and allows light penetration.In the USA a semi-sweet Rosé (blush-style) wine called ‘White Zinfandel’ has achieved widespread popularity. In fact, this popularity has so outstripped all other forms that many fans think there is actually a grape called “White Zinfandel” (there isn’t)!
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Mead:
Fermented beverage made with honey, water and yeast optionally with flavoring ingredients.
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