Staff Pick

J.Rickards Old Vine Zinfandel, Brignole Vineyards - 2020

Name: J.Rickards Old Vine Zinfandel, Brignole Vineyards
Brand: J. Rickards Winery
SKU: 33543
Price: 31.96 USD
Availability: InStock

Item # 33543 750 mL

The Brignole vineyard was planted in 1908 so you can rest assured that you will be drinking a big, bold red wine. These are truly older vines from loam and California jade soils. This was aged in oak (50/50 American and French), 50% of which were new.

$31.96/ Single Bottle

$383.52 $345.17/ Case of 12

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available for pickup by noon December 26

Color

Red

Vintage

2020

Country

USA

Region

California

Sub-Region

Sonoma

Appellation/Village

Alexander Valley

Producer

J. Rickards Winery

Grape Variety

Zinfandel

Alicante Bouchet

Carignan

Mataro

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Staff Pick Notes

Passion for farming is a key principle for Jim Rickards. This drive is shared with the entire team at the vineyard and is demonstrated in the way they do everything. For example, they choose to do labor-intensive chip grafting because it allows them to make wines from vines according to taste. Zinfandel was the the first variety planted, and the results of the older vines are dense, aromatic, with high acidity and typicity that shines through taste after taste. Located in the famed Alexander Valley in Sonoma, I can't imagine a more impressive place to produce world-class wines.

- SCB

Glossary

California

California makes more wine than any other state in the United States. Not only does the state grow a variety of noble grape varieties like Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, there are also plantings of lesser-known varieties such as Nebbiolo, Roussanne and Mourvèdre to name just a few.

Carignan

Grown all over Europe and the Americas, Carignan (a.k.a. Carignane, Carignano, and Cariñena) is seldom seen as a 100% varietal wine. Many appellations of Languedoc-Roussillon must include a certain percentage of Carignan, but it is rarely the dominant grape in these blends. For years, this naturally high-yielding grape suffered from overproduction, but New World winemakers have lately taken up the Carignan cause and produced some distinctive and delicious examples. Now that it is subject to...

Zinfandel

Zinfandel is widely thought of as “America’s grape,” but in fact the variety is of Croatian origin, and is genetically extremely similar to Italian Primitivo, which thrives in the warmest parts of southern Italy. Like Primitivo, Zinfandel requires warm but not hot growing conditions, as its skins are relatively thin: this can cause its berries to shrivel into raisins if left on the vine a little too long. Dry and well-drained terroirs are also preferable for Zinfandel, as its bunches are...

Alexander Valley

Cyrus Alexander, for whom the Alexander Valley is named, planted the region's first vineyard in 1846. Situated at the top of Sonoma County, with about 15,000 acres of highly-prized vineyards, today’s Alexander Valley encompasses a variety of microclimates, supporting a wide-range of grape varieties. While Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme on the gravelly terrain of the valley floor, the region also produces notable Chardonnays, Zinfandels, Merlots, and Sauvignon Blancs. Even some cooler-climate...

Chasselas

A white grape grown all over the world, including Alsace, the Loire, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Italy. The best Chasselas wines, however, are produced in Switzerland, where the grape is called Fendant and is the most widely planted variety in the country. When made well, Chasselas is soft, welcoming and easy to drink.

Check out our Glossary