2023 Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel Sonoma County 6pk 6x750ml

Five generations, 130 years, and vines that were already in the ground when Teddy Roosevelt was president. Seghesio planted their first Zinfandel in 1895 in Alexander Valley — the original blocks are still producing — and the family has survived earthquakes, Prohibition, the Depression, droughts, and fires without compromising what made them one of Sonoma's oldest winemaking names.

The Old Vine Zinfandel is the flagship, and the name isn't marketing. At Seghesio, "old vine" means a minimum of 50 years in the ground. The fruit for this bottling averages closer to 75. That kind of vine age delivers complexity and concentration younger vines can't touch — deeper roots, lower yields, fruit that's seen decades of weather and learned how to respond.

Winemaker Andy Robinson works in small lots, hand-sorting and fermenting each block individually in open-top fermenters. He identified and isolated an indigenous yeast strain from the estate's Home Ranch Vineyard and uses it exclusively for those wines. The approach is old-world: let the vineyard speak, let the vintage show itself, get out of the way. The blend here is 83% Zinfandel, with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet, and mixed reds rounding out the back end.

The 2023 opens with black plum, dried fig, clay earth, garrigue, and cardamom spice. The palate is a briar patch — red raspberry, blackberry, black cherry — with a luscious, mouth-filling entry that evokes chocolate cherry cordial.

Juicy, supple mid-palate, mouthwatering acidity, hints of baking spice, and a rich, velvety finish built on mature, age-worthy tannins.

This is old-school Zin: bold, spicy, loaded with zest, and relaxed in its own skin. Pull the cork tonight or let it ride another five years — it'll handle both.