The 2008 Scott Harvey Amador County Mountain Selection Zinfandel is 99% Zinfandel and 1% Mixed Ports (the grapes that go into Port) sourced from several vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley of Amador County, California. The list of the vineyards used is interesting, 64% Bowman Vineyards, 13% Manby Vineyards, 9% Norton Vineyard (84 year old vines), 1% DeWitt Vineyard and 14% 1869 Vineyard. The 1869 Vineyard is the oldest Zinfandel vineyard in the US, 141 year old vines, to put that into perspective, Billy the Kid was killed in 1881, Custer died at Little Big Horn in 1876 and the Chicago Fire was 1871, these are extremely unique, gnarled ancient vines. The wines was aged for 21 months in French oak barrels and the alcohol content is 14.5%.
The color is shiny black cherry jello red. There is an interesting nose, red plums, cinnamon, sage, blackberry and black coffee. This is a big bold Zinfandel, it has tannins and oak (large, but balanced), it tastes of Dr.Pepper, spice drops candy (but not sweet), jammy raspberry, unsweetened tea. The mid-palate adds extracted blackberry and smoother blueberry. There is a very solid core of acidity running thru the length of the Zinfandel, that really shows itself in a lip-smacking long, long finish.
The Scott Harvey Amador County Zinfandel can hold its own with any Zinfandel, no matter the price. Great grapes, skilled winemaking combine to make a first class bottle of wine. You can find it on Scott Harvey’s website for $20, but I have seen it selling on the web for as little as $12. The Amador County Zinfandel drinks extremely well on its own, with a Zinfandel I always recommend pairing it with BBQ and the Scott Harvey Zinfandel will rock some Kansas City style ribs, but a nice prime, aged steak is the proper way to enjoy this Zin.
