Cline, Ancient Vines Zinfandel, Contra Costa County

I kept it a bit long, but stored well and was still very good, long flavour with good fruit. Surprisingly it was still good.

2009 vintage

Good Zin for the money. Thin but still a lot of fruit. Classic Zin nose and taste, strawberry jam

2012 vintage

A good table wine for the price.

2012 vintage

Served @ 17c/63f (14.5% abv) with BBQ Pulled-Pork. Crimson in the glass with Cherries and Ripe Red Berries on the nose, carrying over well to the palate. Light to medium body, this wine is smooth and well-balanced. Medium acidity with muted tannin and characteristic spiciness. Dry medium finish. The higher alcohol content (14.5% abv & 15.0% for the 2013 Cline) is not perceivable in the nose or palate. Spouse and I really enjoyed this wine; with food or just for …

2012 vintage

Given its old vine, Contra Costa County pedigree, I was hoping for a bit more. Yet at 4 years old it's a bit tight, a bit raisiny, and yet a bit underdeveloped. Another year in the bottle, perhaps, to bring out its best?

2012 vintage

I really liked this. Classic zin nose and palate, though on the older side - a bit more maturing fruit and some autumnal notes. But, clean, still good fruit, not over-extracted, good balance. This is very nice wine. As always, good QPR.

2006 vintage

Still youthful in the glass. The nose opens with barnyard and stable notes, followed by blackberry and raspberry notes. Mouthfeel is lovely: smooth and medium bodied. Fruit is restrained by now -- black and red berry notes, some cherry cola and old leather to a lingering and somewhat elegant finish. Drank it with home-smoked pastrami, a fine combination.

2010 vintage

Light and fruity, but not much depth. Structure is weak.....quite one dimensional. Waited too long on this one.

2006 vintage

Solid Zin subtly at the back end of its life cycle. Good legs. Red brick color, tobacco and tar mixed with ripe Athena melon and a hint of lemon. Slight bitterness. Yes, it is showing advanced age. Yet, it could be the poster child for satisfaction that the golden years can represent. Drink up my friends and enjoy!

2009 vintage

I purchased this wine today at a local liquor store to find out how well it was faring at 6 years old. The answer: not bad, but it should be consumed soon. I know that Zins can be great wines with longevity, but not in the way they are made today. One of the most memorable wises I ever tasted was the 1935 Simi Zinfandel, which had been kept in a large redwood tank till it was bottled in the …

2009 vintage

Usually this wine is very reserved and subtle, but this one was big and lush. Was it the age? Whatever it was, it was great.

2012 vintage

The sweetness comes especially through in the taste now - close to much sweetness for my taste. Very clear taste of svesker - like Zinfandel. Too expensive wine for the quality - do not buy again.

2010 vintage

Popped and poured. Drank over 3 evenings. This wine is great right now. No rough edges, slightly oaked so fruit shows well. Held up well even on the 3rd evening. Great QPR here.

2012 vintage

Really can't do much better than this for a $15 zin. Started out a little peppery, then became milder and a little fruity later on. A very drinkable, excellent value bottle of wine.

2010 vintage

The wine is clear and bright with a medium ruby colour. The nose is clean and developing, showing pronounced intensity aromas of black fruit (dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries) and oak (clove, cedar). The wine is off-dry in the mouth with a low acidity. It has medium(+) ripe supple tannins and a high warm alcohol. It has a full body and pronounced intensity flavours of black fruit (dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries) and oak (clove, cedar). The finish is long. …

2012 vintage

Smells like strawberry. Sweet and peppery taste. Enjoyed it and eating it with a nice pasta and calamari dish.

2012 vintage

Decent Zinfandel, good QPR, nothing special but an easy drinker and a good table wine.

2012 vintage

Clear light red color wine. Dry with light tannin and more cherry notes than I was expecting. Dry finish that is maybe shorther than I was expecting. Not as big and powerful as some other Zins out there but enjoyable and easy drinking.

2012 vintage

Dark ruby. Berry nose. Notes of overripe strawberries, chocolate and delectable alcohol. Not full-bodied, smooth.

2012 vintage

Nice fruity nose. Strawberry, chocolate, smokey hickory. Nice zin and pretty balanced. This is my go to zinfandel for QPR.

2012 vintage

Black berries with spice, smoke, coffee and chocolate. Pleasant but luck of depth. Ready to drink and a great partner to a spiced herby rib rack.

2012 vintage

Has the sweetness for a Zinfandel (both in bouquet and taste), and an easy-going wine. The high alcohol (15%) do not go through - easy to drink and enjoy. A bit too expensive I think, even on sale. Dont buy it again.

2010 vintage

Excellent value Zin. Deep color and flavor. Not overly bold.

2010 vintage

Great bottle to go with baby backs that have been on the smoker for 6 hours.

2012 vintage

Decant at less 1hr

2012 vintage

Did not hold up against other old vine zins in a blind tasting

2010 vintage

Very nice Zin, not much tanins, nice fruit and not too complicated, good for food, meat or by itself

2006 vintage

Aerated in Venturi to bring out more flavor. Nose of sweet perfume. Very jammy wine, with raspberry and grape fruit abounding. Medium finish with notes of vanilla and redhot spice. Very pleasant value wine. Will be buying more of this.

2012 vintage

Terrific value, great California Zin.

2012 vintage

Drinkable, but nothing special

2012 vintage

PNP, a little harsh and disjointed at first, but opened up with time, as the last glass was better than the first. Good fruit, berries, spicey, with chocolate notes, needs a few months or maybe a year to settle down.

2012 vintage

Better than expected. A vibrant fruity Zin that is fun to drink. I wouldn't wait too long..

2012 vintage

On our recent swing through the Napa/Sonoma, we happened by Cline on a quiet morning. One thing in its favor is the absence of a tasting fee; another is the wonderful setting. They obviously make a lot of money from selling wine, but most of theirs are in the affordable category. Their zins represent a good value. This is no exception: a medium weight on the zin scale, emphasis on the brambly fruit rather than the baked goods. Eminently quaffable.

2012 vintage

Very good. Dark purple color with thin, watery legs. Sweet cherries on the nose. Flavors of earth, cherry, and pepper. Getting better with time. An exceptional value.

2012 vintage

Retreat; 6/6/2014-6/8/2014 (Anvil Vineyard and Ranch) : Dark fruit, peppery spice; full bodied, peppery black fruit, very drinkable, nice. 88

2012 vintage

Light purple-red color. Strawberry, pepper, smoke, mushroom on the nose. Chocolate, earth, red fruits on the palate. A touch of dust and oak in the end. Well, I was disappointed about this because I prefer concentrated and thick Zinfandel. This wine is like making Pinot instead of Zinfandel, only about 35% of new oak and 8 months in the barrel? Come on!!! And this is made of 80-100 years old vines, I think it's a waste. I might be biased …

2009 vintage

The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like black pepper. It tastes like blackberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium.

2012 vintage

Black cherry, mint, chlorine? It's good. Light for a zin. Looks almost like Pinot

2012 vintage

The wine is showing a lot of red berry fruit and has a sweet edge and some brambly character. It is showing just a bit if excess acidity on thee tongue that should go away in a year or two in bottle. The finish was slightly tart and a touch of light tannin. Give it some more time in bottle to develop more.

2009 vintage

Pretty solid value for the price - would definitely drink it again

2010 vintage

Good QPR. Light color is deceptive. Nose was overwhelmed by the high alcohol content. Oakey overtones almost a bit much (and I like that) -- bordered on overwhelming the fruit. Still, very enjoyable, especially considering the price. Another bottle for my list of everyday drinkers!

2009 vintage

You know I really enjoyed this. Thick hearty Zin. Spicy? Yes but not over the top. Hint of plum and banana peel. Noticeable tannins & acidity. For the price not too shabby.

2009 vintage

A good solid Zin. The color is a medium deep purple. Nose is an earthy spicy tobacco. Taste is very much like the nose with alight dry tannic finish. Cline’s Zins need some time in bottle to develop fully. Don't be rushed to drink the latest vintages-- leave them for a year or two from their first release.

2009 vintage

Good

2010 vintage

Received as a gift; servicable.

2010 vintage

Delicious. Purple in color. Sweet cherries on the nose. Tobacco and cherry flavor up front; spice on the finish. Exceptional value...I love this wine!

2010 vintage

pretty good easydrinking red - went well with steak. probably a little too sweet for me.

2010 vintage

Arguably the best bang to buck wine on the planet. Never fails to have a strong delicious spicy finish. Not too fruity and very smokey. Love it.

2010 vintage

Very disappointing, even at the price. Did not finish. Does not measure up to earlier vintages. Good for cooking

2010 vintage

OK zin, lighter style but still nice.

2009 vintage

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Cline, Ancient Vines Zinfandel, Contra Costa County

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