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The OVZ Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2021 is a wine selling for around $15, though Costco will sometimes have it for under $10. This is a brand from Oak Ridge Winery a family-owned winery in business since 1906, they built their first winery in 1934.
It is common for Lodi wineries to be in the wine business for over 100 years and be in farming for even longer. Lodi is located east and south of Napa in the river valleys coming from San Pablo Bay. It is a warmer, Mediterranean-style growing region that specializes in grapes that thrive in hotter weather. They do have cool nights and morning fog to give the grapes some respite from the heat.
The OVZ Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2021 is an estate-grown wine. The term “Old Vines” does not have a legal definition, but tends to refer to vines over 45 years old.
Zinfandel was not a particularly popular wine until the 1970s and 80s, so there was no financial incentive to pull up the older vines and plant newer better-producing vines.
The White Zinfandel craze of 50 years ago saw more Zinfandel vines being planted and those vines that produced inexpensive sweet White ZInfandel are now highly valued Old Vine plantings.
The OVZ Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2021 was produced during a drought year which produced fewer grapes, but high-quality grapes.
This Zinfandel is 84% Zinfandel, 7% Rubired, 6% Petite Sirah, and 3% Malbec. Rubired is a hi-bred made from crossing 2 Portuguese grapes and is often used to provide the wine with color.
The wine was aged in American oak 8-% and French oak 20% for 6 months. American oak has a wider grain than French oak and can give off more influence, so care is needed. American oak imparts flavors of chocolate and vanilla, depending on how the oak barrels are toasted. The alcohol content is 14.75%.
The OVZ Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is raspberry jelly red with black highlights. The nose is ripe berries, interesting spices, black pepper, light herbs, and a meaty aroma. The OVZ Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2021 has an enticing mouthfeel and a mix of smooth and sharper flavors.
This Zinfandel tastes like intense blackberry, a solid slap of spice, blueberry, black pepper, and ripe plum. The mid-palate adds raspberry jam, dusty tannins, orange zest, and dried strawberry.
The acidity is well-controlled and allows the rich flavors to fully unfold.
The Summary
- The OVZ Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2021 is an excellent, well-priced Lodi Zinfandel
- A Lodi Zin should be a blend of classy, elegant Zinfandel and rough and ready farmhouse Zinfandel and the OVZ gets that right.
- This is a bang-for-the-buck ZInfandel.
