2018 Andis Wines Painted Fields Old Vine Zinfandel Sierra Foothills 750 ml

It’s only been three short years since 100-point consultant Philippe Melka and his Director of Winemaking Mayaan Koschitzky, a veteran of Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle, began working with owner Andrew Friedlander at Andis Wines. As the deep-fruited 2018 Painted Fields Old Vine Zinfandel makes clear, greatness doesn’t need much time to shine. 

The 2017 Old Vine Zinfandel took Wine Access by storm, selling out entirely on its way to becoming a new member favorite, but the 2018 has upped the ante: It earned 92 points and Editors’ Choice honors from Wine Enthusiast (to be published in their upcoming December issue), and we’ve got it for $19.99. Simply put, it’s a masterful and delicious overachiever, crafted by two of the best winemakers around.  

We first tasted the incredibly fresh, winter-spiced Old Vine Zin in the company of Melka and Koschitzky at Thomas Keller’s Mexican restaurant, La Calenda. Brimming with finely polished yet powerful black fruit, seamlessly layered with cinnamon, star anise, lilac, mint, and clove, we immediately sensed the 100-point touch of these two legends, and understood why they had chosen to join a cadre of superstars in tapping into the greatness of Amador County and the Sierra Foothills. 

Amador is fast becoming a hotspot for winemakers in search of premium grapes at superb values. Estates like Favia (run by the eminent Andy Erickson and Annie Favia) and Keplinger source some of their favorite grapes here. In Wine Spectator’s “Editor’s Pick” issue, editor Tim Fish declared that an Amador County Zin had spurred his “aha” wine moment of the year—the revelation that old-school California Zins like this one represent the peak of authenticity and regionality.

With a client list that includes heavyweights Quintessa, Vineyard 29, Dana Estates, and Seavey, there isn’t much Melka and Koschitzky haven’t accomplished in Napa. The chance to work with some of the oldest vines in California and make their mark in red-hot and fast-rising Amador County was exactly the opportunity they were looking for.

Working with Andis owner Andrew Friedlander, Melka and Koschitzky increased freshness, complexity, and precision through new equipment and improved protocols, and made farming adjustments that drove up acidity and pushed back on sugars and ripeness. They let the ancient vines do the heavy lifting, and kept the juice pure and clean through to the end. 

Composed of 80% Zinfandel, with a balance of Barbera and Petite Sirah—a heritage blend that evokes the Gold Rush era—the 92-point 2018 was aged in 50% new French oak, adding smokey, spice-tinged polish and suppleness. The result is a wine that drinks far above its $19.99 price tag, a testament to its superstar makers and the rugged hills of Amador County.