Mission Codename Z. Diddy
What does “old vine” mean to you?
Twenty years? Fifty years? Truth is, there’s no legal definition of the term. Anyone can slap those two words on a Zinfandel and ship it out - even if the vines are only five years old.
But this wine? There’s NO dispute here. It’s not just old vine. More like ancient. Now factor in an all-star winemaker into the mix, a 93-point score, and a whopping 42% OFF. Oooweee, we just lost half of our thirsty Zinfandel lovers as they rush to claim their stake!
In fact, maybe throw a few in your locker for safekeeping because Zinfandel never lasts long around here. Then circle back and get caught up.
At 152 years of age, the Original Grandpère Vineyard is one of the oldest in the world, and THE oldest Zin vineyard, period. Only four lucky wineries claim fruit from this historic spot, Andis being one, a relative newcomer on the scene, but from their Sierra Foothills outpost, they almost immediately made a mark.
Maybe that has something to do with the winemakers. You might know Philippe Melka. He stands atop the pyramid of Napa Valley, having left his mark on countless wineries, producing innumerable high-scoring gems for places like Seavey, Lail, Vineyard 29, Dana Estates etc. Melka shares Andis’ winemaking with another key consultant, Maayan Koschitzky who honed his skills at the likes of Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle. Or it could be the state-of-the-art winemaking facility they built.
Or a little of everything.
Well, truth is in the glass…
Broad, expansive and complex. It carries a remarkable depth of concentration, delivering undulating waves of black raspberry, red cherry and dark chocolate. Add a twist of peppery spice, nutmeg and dried leather. It’s fairly plush and creamy, with a structured backbone to hold everything together. This is the ultimate spicy food Zin as it has gobs of fruit and layers of intensity to pack a punch.
We’re beyond thrilled to bring you this, our first-ever Andis. While it lasts!
93 Points – Wine Enthusiast
“Distinctive tones of salt, pepper and sage bring this full-bodied wine to life as they accent the ripe plum and blackberry flavors. Mild tannins and a superbroad texture make this wine something over which to linger, as it no doubt reflects the 19th-century vines from which it was made.”
What the Winery Says
2018 Original Grandpère Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel
- Winemakers
- Philippe Melka & Maayan Koschitzky
- Varietal
- 100% Zinfandel
- Vintage
- 2018
- Appellation
- Shenandoah Valley, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
- Vineyard
- The 1869 Original Grandpere Vineyard
- Planted in
- 1869
- Soils
- Sandy
- Alcohol
- 15.5%
- Total acidity
- 5.3 g/L
- pH
- 3.9
- Residual sugar
- 0.2 g/L
- Harvest date
- October 11, 2018
- Bottling date
- April 15, 2020
- Aging
- 18 months
- Barrels
- 33% new French oak
- Production
- 6 barrels