A medium ruby to garnet & fairly viscous
Smell
Early: Raspberries, sour cherries, vanilla, smoky charcuterie & some pepper
Later: Raspberries, plums, some stalky tomato & vanilla
Palate
Dry, with moderate acid, light & fine tannins & a deceptively low alcohol mouthfeel, which all make this feel like a lighter red, but at 15% it will knock you around!
Bold & upfront flavours of plums, raspberries, confected cherry flavourings, raisins and some subtle oak-influence in the background giving vanilla, cracked pepper and nutmeg that linger on a moderately long finish.
Tale
The original Wente winemakers were German immigrants who bought their first 47 acres of Livermore Valley vines in 1883. The winery is currently run by 4th and 5th generation Wente winemakers & vignerons, and is proudly the USA's oldest continuously run, family-operated winery.
Highlights for the winery have included:
- Establishing their own clone of Chardonnay in 1912, which now produces the majority of California's Chardonnay
- Producing the USA's first varietally labelled Chadonnay, Sauv Blanc & Semillon
- Building an 18-hole Wente Vineyard golf course in 1998 (designed by Greg Norman)
Price: $18
Quality: ☆☆☆☆
Value: ☆☆☆
https://www.vintagecellars.com.au/Red%20Wine/wente-vineyards-beyer-ranch-zinfandel-750ml-2009_7902264
https://www.wentevineyards.com
