2016 Seghesio Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel Sonoma County 750 ml

When it comes to old-vine California Zinfandel, Seghesio almost always has the last word. The family practically invented the category, and Zinfandel lovers are willing to pay top dollar year after year for their signature bottlings. Which is why we’re thrilled to offer our best Seghesio deal ever on this best-in-class Old Vine Zinfandel at over 28% off.

The 2016 scored 93+ points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, which declared that “Seghesio continues to set a high standard for quality and attractive value.” Wine Spectator remarked on this wine’s intensity and resemblance to a classic “field blend,” and we agree—it has a ton in common (including the member raves) with Wine Access all-time favorite Three Wine Co. Zins. The Seghesio's $40 SRP was already “attractive,” but at $29 it’s a downright gorgeous steal for this 2016.

A deep ruby color hints at the sensuous, sun-kissed blackberry, baked cranberry, and spiced red plum aromas that fill the glass. A few swirls unlock a surprisingly sophisticated crescendo of secondary aromatics—a hallmark of Seghesio’s 70-year-old vines—with notes of dried rose petal, licorice, clove, sandalwood, and dried orange peel. Rich and dense, the palate leads with beautiful polish, while fine, grippy tannins are softened by an array of warm fruit tones.

A long, savory finish punctuates the ancient-vine concentration, making it clear this delicious Zinfandel is hitting its perfect stride after five years of age. It will continue evolving and improving over the next decade.

Established in 1895 when Edoardo Seghesio planted his first Zinfandel vineyard in the Alexander Valley, the Seghesios are one of the great Italian heritage families in Northern California (and there are many of those). Second only to the Foppianos as the oldest winemaking family in Sonoma, the Seghesios weathered Prohibition and the Great Depression to establish themselves as “California's elite Zinfandel specialists,” in the words of Wine Spectator.

Five generations and 126 vintages later, this 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel relies on that very heritage for its inimitable complexity. From thick and gnarled 70-year-old vines planted on the Dry Creek bench and in the cooler southwest Alexander Valley, the wine’s ancient grape clonal material dates back to the turn of the century.

This is key to understanding why Seghesio’s old vine bottlings are held up as the international paragon for the heights great Zinfandel can achieve: The older the vines, the thicker the trunks, resulting in root systems that become devigorized over time, producing fewer and smaller grapes. Vastly more intense than larger grapes from younger vines, these tiny berries better highlight Zinfandel's briary spice character and enable the wine to evolve gracefully in the cellar.

If you’ve yet to experience old vine Zinfandel, this is nothing less than a textbook example from a banner vintage, and a steady Wine Access member-favorite.