Girard Old Vine Zinfandel 2021
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Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast -
James
Suckling
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The nose reveals bold aromas of blackberry jam, red cherries and spicy white pepper. Flavors of black plum and dried herbs flood the palate, framed by a careful selection of Fusion barrel oak; savory notes imparted by the American oak, Hungarian oak elevates Zinfandels’ characteristic sweet spice, and the French oak affords the wine a smooth and luxurious finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of sites, including the Godward Vineyard and the winery's home parcel planted to mixed varieties (both in Calistoga), went into the impressive 2021 Old Vine Zinfandel. Crushed raspberry leaf, briary scents and blackberries appear on the nose, framed by hints of vanilla and mocha (the wine spent 14 months in a mix of American, French and Hungarian oak, 40% new). Full-bodied, it's supple, ripe and sumptuous yet juicy, fresh and fun.
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Wine Enthusiast
Opulent oak spices are seamlessly woven with dried-fruit richness in this ultrasmooth and mouthcoating wine. Dried black figs, blackberry jam and a touch of maple syrup merge with vanilla, cinnamon and cedar notes for a banquet of indulgences.
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James Suckling
Attractive aromas of ripe dark berries with chocolate, dried orange peel and mocha. Full-bodied and broad on the palate with succulent deep dark fruit and fine-grained, silky tannins. Fruity finish with a spicy edge to it. Drink now.
Other Vintages
2019-
Tasting
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James
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Connoisseurs'
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For the past 40 years, Girard has been singularly dedicated to ensuring balance in their wines. This is achieved by meticulously focusing on making choices that respect the grapes and Napa Valley heritage at each step of the winemaking process. They work closely with long-time growers in both mountain and valley vineyards to ensure vines are nurtured to develop balanced sugar and acidity in the grapes when it comes time to harvest. In their state-of-the-art winery, they employ innovative barrel technology to bring out the ripe fruit characteristics during the fermentation and aging process. The dedication to quality throughout the winemaking process is evident in the consistently award-winning wines that offer richness, complexity and balance in each sip.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.