Cline Cellars 2005 Ancient Vines Zinfandel (California)
10 Jul 2020- Details
- Category: Uncorked Tonight
(April 19, 2020) ... At first I thought it was corked, but instead it just had a musty, just-opened-after-a-long-nap note ... Within 15 minutes that blows off and starts to open. There's plenty of dried fruit, smoky notes and even some , prun-ishy-plum cake. As the air continues to get in the dried fruit portion develops more character and definition: dried blackberry & dried black cherry, and as it continues to evolve in the glass an earthy note emerges but the dried fruit lingers on which makes it an interesting sip. This one is over the hill, but not that far, and that is proven out by the acidity and spices still rocking the palate through the finish. By the hour-and-a-half mark the fruit is all but finished showing itself.
As for the Robert Giraud 2000 Chateau Cotelier, it was even older than the Giglio and it showed very well too. A blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre from the Costieres de Nimes - it started off earthy and seemingly oxidized, then it developed some simple sour cherry notes that seemed to stick around for the rest of the evening. It was quite drinkable and enjoyable as it opened, that cherry was dried and helped accentuate everything else nicely.
