Gnarly Head
Old Vine Zinfandel
LODI, CA
Well, any excuse to say "Gnarly" is really all it takes to impress me. The name, cute as it may be, actually comes from their gnarled looking 35-80 year old vines in the fab growing region of Lodi, California!
[Wine Quickie: Old vines don't necessarily make better Zin, just different in a very good way! The vines are, again, so gnarled and old that they do not produce much fruit. However, the little grapes they do produce are fan-freaking-tastic and full of flavor!] Some of you non-winos may be thinking, "Wait..I thought Zin was pink and sweet?!" Okay, yes I see the dilemma, let's not get this confused. I don't want you to take Aunt Bee out and have her order a glass of Zin expecting sweet. When she takes a sip she may fall back in her chair due to tannin-overload. [White Zinfandel is that blush-colored wine you see in mostly big bottles and jug bottles. It is made from the same grape I speak of, Zinfandel. When the wine is being made, the grape skins are removed quickly for less contact with the juice. So instead of deep red color, you get pretty in pink! Just like a White Merlot or White Grenache.]
I shared a bottle of this the other night with the lovebug (a.k.a. the man i said "until death do us part" to). It is full of spice and seriously intense flavor of black cherry and, Mmm, chocolate. Make some spaghetti with that yummy basil tomato sauce and go buy a $10 bottle of Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin for supper. Your local store has to have it, if they don't give me their number, that is just plain poppycock!
P.S. "Zin" is an abbreviation of Zinfandel that only the coolest of cool kids use, which is why I was using it..
