Oct 07 2009
Wine of the Week: Castlebank 2007 Old Vines Zinfandel
We decided to try out some Castlebank Old Vines Zinfandel after we saw it on sale for just under $13 a bottle on WinesTilSoldOut. We know that the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma produces some great zins, so we were psyched to give a good value zin a try. The grapes were handpicked from 25 to 40 year old vines (and some even older- going back 100 years) and the wine was aged in French and American oak for 11 months.
Wined & Dined’s Quick Tasting Notes
Wine: Castlebank Old Vines Zinfandel
Vintage: 2007
Varietal(s): 89% Zinfandel and 11% Petite Sirah
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA
Alcohol: 14.7%
Price: We paid about $13/bottle. Suggested retail is closer to $25.
Color/Appearance: Deep garnet
Nose/Aroma: Blackberry/cherry, some pepper, light spice
Mouth/Flavors: You certainly get some big, classic zin flavors of cherry/plum/raspberry/blackberry right up front, but it less huge and less jammy than other zins from the area that I have tried. The rich forest berries are there with some light hints of cinnamon, clove, and dates. It is certainly fruity but more balanced than others I have tried (especially at this price point).
Conclusion: A really good value zin is sometimes hard to come across (especially under $15). This is a fabulous value zin from a family-owned winery located in the zin mecca of Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. Get your hands on some bottles of Castlebank Old Vines Zin, and relax at home with a nice steak or juicy burger. You will not be disappointed. Cheers!
I also picked up this wine from Wines til Sold Out. We finally opened it the other night and were pleasantly surprised. I agree that this is an exceptionally good value and a truly enjoyable bottle. I will definitley be picking up some more.
We just got Castlebank from WTSO, too. If I had known it was going to be so good I would’ve ordered more than 4 bottles. At $11.99 it was a great buy. I’m searching everywhere for more at that price, but can’t find it for less than $15.99 and that’s with shipping.