BOOZE TYPE: Wine
PRICE: $14.99 at Astor Center
RATING: A+
I first had Cline wine when I went on my whirlwind (okay, less whirlwind and more drunken tumbleweed) tour of Sonoma with my dearest friends Martha and Stephen. It was the last stop on our visit, and most of the reason was specifically to buy this wine, which is Stephen’s father’s favorite wine in the whole wide world, or so I’m told.
I’m pretty sure I had some of this that day, but it was the end of a day of many sips and pours, so I can hardly remember. The ‘ancient vines’ in the name means that the wine is made from what you would call in the food whore circles, heirloom grapes. I’ve had another of the Cline ancient vines wines, in that case a carignane (mmm, I loves me some carignane), and I tell ya, those old grapes make for some tasty stuff.
This zinfandel (and let me tell you, before my last trip to California, I did not know zinfandel outside of that godawful pink stuff my stepmother drinks) is delightful; I can see why Stephen’s dad, who is a gentleman of refined taste, would love it. The aroma is very rich… my first thought was leather when I was swirling it around, and then cinnamon, and eventually some berry and chocolate. The taste doesn’t have much of the tannic problem that often turns me off of red wine—instead it’s just rich on the tongue and all the way down.
If this wine were a man, it would be one of them dudes in pornographic Japanese manga. Like, a good one, with the broad shoulders and strong jawline and well-cut suits, not the kind that rapes you and makes you like it. I have definitely had wines that have raped me and made me like it, though. Those are mostly whites, though, I think.
BUY IT AGAIN: Yes, though the price makes me want to save it for special occasions.
Leave a Comment