2007 Old Vine Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
“A rich, complex Zinfandel showing the rustic mouthfeel sometimes found in Dry Creek reds. The tannins are strong and jagged, and the berry and cherry flavors have a wild, briary taste. But the finish is bone dry, and the wine grows more interesting as it breathes in the glass.”
~ S.H. (3/1/2011)
2008 Old Vine Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
“Ray Teldeschi grows this on 100-year-old zinfandel vines, which manage their ripe fruit with an intriguing balance. It’s figgy and rich, hidden behind new oak until it’s had time to take on air. Hints of leather, peach and grapefruit add detail to the fatness of the fruit, suggesting the complexity that will develop as the wine ages.”
2009 Del Carlo Cabernet Sauvignon Black currant and a bit of pepper come out of the glass with a bit of a swirl, and some black cherry and mocha are introduced on the palate. The acidity and tannins are wonderfully in balance, leading to a lingering finish. $30 for a Cab this good? That is practically stealing.
2011 Del Carlo Old Vine Zinfandel Blackberry and plum abound with a hint of pepper and some noticeable tannin. There is a lot going on here, but the wine is seamlessly balanced—the alcohol is held in check by all that fruit and structure. I have said before that I love old Zins, and this is one that would no doubt be doing well 10+ years from now.
The next stop for the 12 Days of Zin, takes me back to Dry Creek Valley. At three years old the Del Carlo Winery is a fairly new operation. However the two families involved in it (Del Carlo & Teldeschi) have deep roots in Sonoma County. Different branches of the family have been winemakers, growers, farmers and/or residents of the Dry Creek Valley dating as far back as 1929. And in fact some of the Zinfandel vines they still farm and get fruit from are over 100 years old. They’re not joking when they say “Old Vine.”
“…Dry Creek Valley has won the “most synonymous with Zinfandel” popularity contest, for now. Many family names, often Italian, are in turn synonymous with old vine, Dry Creek Zinfandel. So who is this new Del Carlo, doing business only since 2005? Just another family name of four-generation Dry Creek growers, the Teldeschis. Say no more!”
Summer is here, and that means it’s time to take the cover off the barbecue, clean out the cobwebs and get it ready for the great American tradition of backyard grilling. And no wine is more American than zinfandel, the quintessential BBQ wine. It goes with anything that fits on the grill — ribs, steaks, even chicken. Zinfandel is the perfect match.
92 Points“Here’s a very dry, tannic young
Zinfandel that shows real depth and complexity. It has the rugged mouthfeel and spicy, peppery flavors that mark a good Dry Creek Zin. The fruit suggests wild black, blue and red berries. Drink now.”
~ July 2010 issue
2006 Old Vine Zinfandel
Dry Creek
Valley, Sonoma County
“From a branch of the Del Carlo-Teldeschi family that purchased their 50-acre Home Ranch in 1947, Ray Teldeschi makes this wine from vines that are more than 100 years old. It’s a restrained style of Dry Creek zin, dense and gracious at once, full but not fat. Dark cherry fruit plumps up the tannins in the finish, with a balance that will serve the wine well as it ages.”
~ February, 2010 issue
89 Points 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel
Dry Creek
Valley, Sonoma County
“Zesty and appealingly briary, with baked cherry and cracked pepper aromas and lively flavors of raspberry and smoky anise.
The tannins are a bit rustic on the finish.
Drink now through 2016.”
~ Tim Fish
Senior Editor of the Wine Spectator and author of the popular weekly blog, Exploring Wine.
