Cline Lodi Zinfandel 2020  £14.75

CLINE LODI ZINFANDEL 

Cline Cellars is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Sonoma’s Carneros Valley. Established in 1982 by Fred Cline, a descendant of Italian US settlers, he originally founded the winery in Oakley, Contra Costa County, cultivating Rhône varieties and Zinfandel on vines dating back to 1906. In the 1990s, the family moved their winemaking operation to a 350 acre ranch in Carneros Valley, adopting sustainable farming in 2000, and building the largest solar panelled winery in California. While others in California were focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Fred Cline saw the potential of Rhône varieties and Zinfandel in his vineyards and continues to produce focussed, terroir-driven wines.

Classic and classy Californian Zin. Always a winner. 35% new French oak for 8 months provides just the right amount of toasty vanilla character whilst the overtly ripe and luscious Zinfandel fruit envelops any tannin making this beauty big and bold. Showing a wide array of ripe almost sweet berry fruit including black cherry and strawberry. Additionally, spice notes and a lasting finish of vanilla from oak ageing and gentle, supple tannins add complexity to this wine. This wine will pair very well with smoked pork shoulder, filet mignon, or cioppino.