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The Sobon Estates Old Vine Amador County Zinfandel 2019 is sourced from estate vineyards in the Amador County AVA, east of Napa, north, and east of Lodi, and east of Sacramento, California. Amador County is one of the oldest wine regions in California.
The Sobon family started Shenandoah Vineyards in 1977 and 1989 purchased the D’Agostini winery that had been in business since 1856 and renamed that facility Sobon Estates. Amador County may be the first place where Zinfandel vines were planted, though record keeping of that sort is hard to determine.
The Sobon Estates Old Vine Amador County Zinfandel 2019 uses grapes taken from several estate vineyards with vines ranging from 35 to 104 years old. Prohibition started in 1920, so some of these vines both predated and survived Prohibition.
Sobon produces specializes in Zinfandel along with other grape varietals. Their single-vineyard Zinfandel is the top end of their wines and this Old Vine Zin is sort of their “best of” selection. This is a wine that should be found between $10 and $15.
Do not think that a wine that is comprised of parcels of several vineyards is automatically inferior to single-vineyard wine. With estate farmed grapes the winemaker knows which sections will enhance the blend. Most wines are blends, even a single varietal wine is a blend of grapes from different lots. An experienced winemaker can make excellent wine by carefully choosing and blending different vineyards.
The Sobon Estates Old Vine Amador County Zinfandel 2019 was fermented in stainless steel vats and aged in older French and American oak barrels. Older, used barrels give less oak influence with every use. Oak barrels while watertight are not completely airtight. Stainless steel vats let no air in, but an oak barrel lets a tiny amount of air through. That added addition of a slight amount of oxygen gives oak barrel wine a different character than steel-aged wine.
Amador County is farther east than most California wine regions and is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Wine regions are typically near water features or near Mountains. This is the area where gold was first found in California and Jose Amador was one of the first prospectors who found gold. The Sobon Estates Old Vine Amador County Zinfandel 2019 has an alcohol content of 15%.
The Sobon Estates Old Vine Amador County Zinfandel 2019 Tasting Notes
The color is a clean, clear crimson red with black highlights. The nose is black cherry, soft herbs, black pepper, mild spice, plum, mint, and raisins. The Sobon Estates Old Vine Amador County Zinfandel 2019 is soft, smooth, and delicious.
This Zinfandel tastes like blackberry, extracted licorice, subtle, exotic spice, and raspberry. The mid-palate shows sleek blueberry, slightly rougher, but still subtle spice, and pomegranate. The tannins are sweet and the acidity is well-balanced, this is a well-made Zinfandel.
The Summary
- The Sobon Estates Old Vine Amador County Zinfandel 2019 is a tasty, easy to drink Zinfandel.
- I found it on sale for $10.99 which is a bargain price, actuaaly the list price of $14 is a value.
- If you are into ZInfandel and have not explored Amador County you are missing something good.
