Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2016 The Pines 1852 Old Vine Zinfandel – Bottle Notes

The Pines 1852 was founded in 2001 by Lonnie Wright. Wright learned the craft of viticulture when he and several others planted 2,000 acres in two years; the first vineyards at Columbia Crest. Wade Wolf and Clay Mackie, experts in vineyard management, directed the operation as Wright soaked in all the knowledge these legends had to offer. Wright became the area manager for 650 acres of grapes and supervised the first harvest. The first wines from the The Pines 1852 included a Young Vine Zinfandel, Old Vine Zinfandel and Merlot. Today they make 19 different wines. Peter Rosback, of Sineann, is the winemaker.

The grapes for this Zinfandel come from a vineyard planted in the late 1800’s situated in The Dalles, Oregon.

Maroon in color. 14.5% ABV. Succulent nose of brambly black fruits, baking spices and pepper. Medium body with juicy acidity. Extremely elegant and plush. Blackberry, black cherry, chocolate and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and smooth. Flawless Zinfandel that will be at it’s best over the next 4-6 years. For my money the best Zin producer in Oregon.

My rating: 93 points.

The tasting room for The Pines 1852 is in the beautiful city of Hood River, Oregon. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. The 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel was recently released at a price of $50. It won’t be easy to come by but is definitely worth the search. Good luck!

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1 thought on “2016 The Pines 1852 Old Vine Zinfandel – Bottle Notes

  1. We have been fans of The Pines Old Vine Zin for years. Medium-bodied, fruit forward, lush mouthfeel, with flavors of cherry and dark fruit and a bit of pepper. This version of their Zinfandel sells out every year and is worth going after. Their cozy Hood River tasting room has moved in the past few years to a new location. The staff has been very friendly and helpful whenever we have visited.

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