Reviews & Ratings

2008 Ballentine Vineyards Zinfandel "Old Vines"

Winery: Ballentine Vineyards

Vintage: 2008

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Old Vines"

Wine Category: Zinfandel

Grape blend: 100% Zinfandel

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Napa Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $21

Cases produced: 993

KWG Score: 87.5 (based on 2 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: March 20, 2012

Wine Review: This ruby colored Zinfandel opens with a heavenly blueberry and plum bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and fruit forward. The flavor profile is a tasty blueberry and black cherry blend with notes of old oak. The finish is dry and its dusty tannins are sticky and linger for a quite a while. This rich Zin would pair well with roasted duck breast with a reduced blackberry sauce. Enjoy – Ken

Winemaker Notes: Our 2008 Zinfandel's color has a deep red/blue intesity. Always a pure expression of the two vineyards this Zinfandel has the blueberry/blackberry compote of the Field Clone selection and the bright raspberry spiciness of the Davis clone. There are mild notes of red delicious apple and cranberry along with spicy floral aromas of black pepper and fresh rose petals. The palate is has a really pretty expression of a full bodied wine. It is subtle in nature, but all there. This Zinfandel has a jammy intensity on the palate with flavors of cherries and cranberries, but also showing a complex nature revealing those rose petals, spices, and some sweet vanilla. The wine's acidity is beautifully balanced, helping complete the silky nature of the middle palate, and intesifies the fruit on the finish of the wine.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Ballentine 2008 Old Vines Zinfandel.