Carol Shelton Monga Zinfandel 2019
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Winemaker Notes
Deep black cherry fruit, dried cranberry, orange zest, berry patch in the sun. Dusty vanilla-caramel oak, graham crackers, and cocoa. Fragrant Moroccan and Asian spices, like Chinese 5-spice mélange. Mouthfeel is creamy yet tangy bright cherry, firm-sturdy tannins and a long, lush finish. Super concentrated and very mouth filling.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Carol Shelton Monga Zin is robust, driven, and alive. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of bold black fruits, dried herbs, and oaky notes. Enjoy it with a grilled, well-marbled ribeye. (Tasted: May 8, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Briar patch in a glass, this Zinfandel is lively, with black cherry and cranberry flavors accented by green peppercorn and dried sage, finishing with medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030.
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Wine Enthusiast
From vines planted in 1918, this bottling begins with strong yet pleasant aromas of black licorice, loamy soil and baked plum. Fennel-pollen and licorice flavors ride through the palate as well, with sagebrush herbs amping that plummy core.
Other Vintages
2017-
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In 2000 Carol and her husband Mitch Mackenzie, a former software engineer, launched their own brand – Carol Shelton Wines. Faced with the opportunity to create her own identity and focus on whatever varietals she wanted, Carol chose Zinfandel.
California is a winemaking colossus; by itself it is the fourth largest producer in the world. Red wine accounts for 56% of the total by volume, and red grapes 63% of total acres planted. In addition, a number of California red wines are heralded as being among the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.
While the state’s incredibly diverse geography, soils and microclimates allow for a wide array of styles, the key factor unifying California red wine is the abundance of sunshine and a long, consistent growing season. This leads to well-developed fruit marked both by impressive ripeness and balancing acidity.
The state’s most famous red wine region, of course, is Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as king. But California boasts a wealth of other impressive appellations. The much larger and climatically varied Sonoma County also produces world class California Cabernet, along with wonderful examples of California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Fine versions of Cabernet and Zinfandel hail from Paso Robles as well, which is also gaining fame with Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. As for Pinot Noir, terrific examples can be found from AVA’s such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills. Wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are making wonderful Syrahs, and the Sierra Foothill appellations are proving to be an experimental hotbed, with Italian and Spanish varietals employed to great effect.
This of course is a mere sketch. The subject of California red wine is as deep and broad as an ocean, and absolutely a joy to explore!