Caricature Old Vine Zinfandel 2013
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Wilfred
Wong
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2013 Caricature Old Vine Zinfandel comes as advertised—luscious and approachable. Quite often those terms are euphemisms for soft and sweet. This wine rises above that; the winery has produced a wine that is easy to drink, yet nicely balanced and perfect for simple dining occasions. Drinks very well now. (Tasted: July 19, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
Other Vintages
2015-
Wine
Enthusiast
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Wilfred
Wong
Building on their successes as a vineyard management company, the winery was their first step into crafting wines made solely from their estate vineyards. Since opening in 2006, they have continued to expand our state-of-the-art winery to keep up with the demand for LangeTwins wines as well as private labels and custom winemaking services. Although we have the latest winemaking technology at their fingertips, LangeTwins never loses sight of the fact that only great wine can be made from great winegrapes.
For nearly three decades, the family has proudly practiced the art of sustainable winegrowing. Unlike other farming practices, sustainable winegrowing is all encompassing in its approach. LangeTwins is not only concerned with the health of the vineyard but its surrounding natural environment as well. It is the balance of environmental health, economic profitability and social equity. From vineyard management to marketing, they are committed to improving environmental practices. Ultimately, each element plays a vital role in the integrity and quality of LangeTwins wine.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
Positioned between the San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Lodi appellation, while relatively far inland, is able to maintain a classic Mediterranean climate featuring warm, sunny days and cool evenings. This is because the appellation is uniquely situated at the end of the Sacramento River Delta, which brings chilly, afternoon “delta breezes” to the area during the growing season.
Lodi is a premier source of 100+ year old ancient Zinfandel vineyards—some dating back as far as 1888! With low yields of small berries, these heritage vines produce complex and bold wines, concentrated in rich and voluptuous, dark fruit.
But Lodi doesn’t just produce Zinfandel; in fact, the appellation produces high quality wines from over 100 different grape varieties. Among them are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc as well as some of California's more rare and unique grapes. Lodi is recognized as an ideal spot for growing Spanish varieties like Albarino and Tempranillo, Portugese varieties—namely Touriga Nacional—as well as many German, Italian and French varieties.
Soil types vary widely among Lodi’s seven sub-appellations (Cosumnes River, Alta Mesa, Deer Creek Hills, Borden Ranch, Jahant, Clements Hills and Mokelumne River). The eastern hills are clay-based and rocky and in the west, along the Mokelumne and Cosumnes Rivers, sandy and mineral-heavy soils support the majority of Lodi’s century-old own-rooted Zinfandel vineyards. Unique to Lodi are pink Rocklin-Jahant loam soils, mainly found in the Jahant sub-appellation.