Vino Noceto winemaker Rusty Folena has a fine track record with wine from this, the oldest documented Zinfandel vineyard in California, with vines dating to 1869. Folena’s ninth offering from this famous source shows what can be done with intense old vine fruit from a widely hailed year. The nose presents deep mixed berry fruit, cherry, cinnamon and black pepper. The palate delivers on the expectations set by the nose, with good acidity, mouthfilling fruit, pepper and spice balanced against oak tones that are still integrating. I’d give this a few years in the bottle and enjoy the rewards of time well invested.
Vino Noceto, Amador County (California) Zinfandel 2009
By Rich Cook