Carol Shelton 'Wild Thing' Old Vine Zinfandel

Grape: (76%) Zinfandel, (15%) Carignane, (9%) Petite Sirah
Region: Mendocino County, California
Country: USA
Vintage: 2017
Volume: 750mL
Alcohol: 14.5%
 
Known as the Queen of Zinfandel, Carol started at UC Davis in 1974 as an undeclared major, but after a tour of Sebastiani Winery, she decided to be a winemaker. She declared her major as Fermentation Science under the tutelage of Ann Noble, author of the Aroma Wheel, and threw herself into her enology studies at UC Davis. Armed with her Bachelor’s degree in Enology from Davis, she has never looked back, working her first harvest in 1978 and every harvest since then. In 2000, at the urging of Carol’s husband Mitch, she decided to start her own winery. This is her Wild Thing Zin, named named for the wild-looking 60+ year-old vines, as well as the wild yeasts used in fermentation. The blend is organically farmed 76% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, aged for 14 months in predominantly older French and American Oak barrels. Aromas of black cherry, ripe plum and raspberry fruit combine with a hint of cigar box, and vanilla-oak baking spice loveliness. Smoooooth mouthfeel,  very creamy and round, with a finish that is long with lush jammy fruit.