Dry Creek Vineyard 1998 Heritage Clone Zinfandel (Sonoma County)

Country: US / Heritage Clone
Variety: Zinfandel California
Winery: Dry Creek Vineyard / Sonoma County

Not from old vines, but cloned from them in the pursuit of complexity. This is a very young, backward Zin, dominated by dusty, earthy notes, like a whiff of south-facing barnboard under a hot summer sun. There are some fruity, spicy flavors, but the flavors are similarly closed, and moderate tannins and high acidity produce a scouring texture. Might be more user-friendly with a few years of aging.