While there is no actual legal definition for ‘old vine’, many producers who make old vine styles are relying on regions that have had vines for a long period of time (upward of 40 years!). Although it wouldn’t seem like it, zinfandel was actually the number one planted grape in California until the late 1990’s, making it one of the older vines planted there. At its best, zinfandel creates jammy, brambly wines that have significant depth, and lot of body. Old vines add another element of complexity to this, as the vine begins to produce less fruit. So does Maggio Old Vine Zinfandel 2013 benefit from the struggle to make a better wine?
Sight: Bright pink edges with a ruby like core.
Smell: Milk chocolate, raisins, and strawberry syrup all come together to make an oddly sweet nose. There’s a cinnamon spice, vanilla, and slight peppery note coming together in the mix. The nose is overwhelmingly sweet. All sorts of berries concentrate along with the sweetness, vacillating between dried fruit and syrup.
Sip: The sweetness carries over, and the flavors of raisins, prunes, and dried cherries are all present from the start. The chocolate flavors kick in, and things get some what like powdered sugar. There is a hint of brightness accompanying the moderate-full body, but the sweetness is driving the texture.
Savor: There’s a bit of tannin that builds over time here, and is accompanied by the same raisin, chocolate, and dried fruit flavors.
Maggio Old Vine Zinfandel is just bizarrely sweet. The whole raisin flavor is fun in a certain light, where it makes me want to go grab the Halloween candy and have a crack at it. However, in the light that this would be served with dinner, then this wine gets rather difficult to appreciate. As a pairing with a steak or main course, it might fight with the food. Perhaps the best recommendation for this would be chocolate or a sweeter entree, like duck or general tso’s chicken. While Maggio Old Vine Zinfandel isn’t bad, you definitely need to have idea what you’re going to pair it with before hand.
Verdict: Sweet, Raisin, Dried Fruit, Chocolate
Price: $10
Lodi, California
Available at Wine.Com