Watts Old Vine Iris Vineyards Zinfandel - 2002

Watts Old Vine Iris Vineyards Zinfandel - 2002
Lodi, California

Older vines, by and large, make better wines. Lodi, California, is lucky that way; settlers planted grapevines as early as the 19th century. The vineyards also remained relatively untouched during Prohibition: farmers found it was too much trouble to rip up the vines and plant other crops which wouldn't thrive in those tough soils anyway. Less fertile soils are actually good for winemaking, and the Watts family puts these two advantages - old vines and tough soils - to work in their Iris Vineyards Zinfandel. The wine offers a great mix of dark fruit aromas - blueberry, raspberry - with a touch of chocolate, Zinfandel's full-bodied frame, and light tannins.