Old Vine California Wines on the back deck

Mi Casa, Forestville CA
Tasted Monday, October 6, 2025 - Friday, October 10, 2025 by River Rat with 100 views

Introduction

A dozen of us gathered for an Old Vines Offline and Wood Fired Pizza at my home in Forestville. Sparklers, whites and reds from historic California properties. 2 sparklers, 6 whites and 18 reds were opened.

Flight 1 - Sparklers (2 Notes)

  • 2021 Under The Wire Sparkling Pinot Meunier Alder Springs Vineyard

    USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino

    (10/6/2025)

    Pale coral/peach color, nose of white peaches, lychee, wet concrete after a drizzle. The white peach carries over on the creamy palate backed up by a stony minerality and a rush of acidity akin to Jonathan Apple. The mousse is delicate and focused. This is drinking so well right now. Can’t wait to see what 6-7 years will hold for the complexity. My favorite UTW to date.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2019 Under The Wire Sparkling Rosé Bedrock Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/6/2025)

    On day 3, nose isn’t giving up much today. Palate shows some citrus and just the faintest hint of raspberry Jolly Rancher. Just a single pour left in the bottle so not the best gauge but it was lively on Saturday.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 2 - Whites (2 Notes)

  • 2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Compagni Portis

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/6/2025)

    Taking on a golden hue. Nose of green apple, honey and petrol. Creamy texture candied melon, flint and a slight medicinal note. Medium finish of bittersweet grapefruit and honeydew.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2017 Bucklin Mixed Whites Old Hill Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/6/2025)

    Not a whole lot in the aromatics here. Palate of tropical fruits, pineapple, banana, guava. Full round texture, white pepper spice and bitter citrus peel. Kinda short finish that’s chalky and abrupt.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 3 - Reds (14 Notes)

  • 1997 Joseph Swan Vineyards Zinfandel Lone Redwood Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    (10/6/2025)

    Popped this to a nose of Madeira, Cough Syrup and alcohol. After a few minutes of air a some swirling it began to blossom. The funk blew off, the alcohol subsided and the palate blossomed with cherry, raspberry and strawberry. It just continued to evolve over the course of the evening. Turned into one of the wines of the night against some stiff competition. You just never know sometimes and that makes this hobby so gratifying.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1995 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard Alexander Valley

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    (10/7/2025)

    Popped Saturday for an Old Vine Party, note from day 3 (Tuesday). The condition of the cork on this 30yr old Zinfandel should be illegal. A slight 1/8” stain, looks like it was pulled from a 5yr old bottle. Scored a boatload of old, perfectly stored Scherrer from K&L for an obscene price and this one is just another great example of the storage. burgundy red with a slight bricking noticeable in swirling. Strawberry, raspberry and rhubarb on the nose. Medium bodied spicy palate, red raspberry, cinnamon, some chalk. Really nice balance. Some crushed rock, strawberry rhubarb and allspice on the finish. Aging as gracefully as possible. Didn’t eclipse the ‘97 Shale Terrace but I’m not complaining.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/7/2025)

    Popped this bottle Saturday for an Old Vine Party and it was singing. Notes from the leftovers on day 3. The nose is naturally advanced a bit since Saturday but the palate is still on point with Blackberry, Plum, Raspberry and Blueberry fruit galore, great acidity and fully resolved tannins that are just dusty and soft. What a treat! The ‘06 outperformed this on Saturday but a guest took the rest home so no notes on that one. If these wines are properly stored there is no reason why they can’t go 25-30 yrs. Trick is finding the well stored bottles. This from a K&L auction was a steal at $35.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2008 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/7/2025)

    Popped on Saturday night for an Old Vines Party, note from day 3 (Tuesday). When we tasted it Saturday the nose was a little advanced for its age and the wine creeping 2/3 the way up the cork pointed at a storage issue somewhere in its life. Was #3 out of the trio of ‘04/‘06/‘08 Pagani’s. Tonight the nose is still the most advanced of all three wines but the fruit is still rocking good. No degradation in color, dark burgundy red. Medium plus bodied sporting lots of blackberry, blueberry and black cherry. Black cherry pie filling, white pepper and some clove. Fruit overpowering the acidity a bit and the tannins are chewy. This had a good ten years left in it if it were not for the storage issue. Shame because the fruit is awesome.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2018 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/7/2025)

    Popped this for an Old Vine party Saturday, note from Day 3 (Tuesday). Unlike the ‘04/‘06’/08 this one has no Carignane nor Mataro. I feel like it would have benefitted from one or both. Still a baby. Electric burgundy color with a nearly purple core nose is showing the oak and alcohol along with blackberry. Aggressive swirling doesn’t help the heat on the nose. Big, full bodied wine, blackberry, black cherry, boysenberry, viscous texture. A real mouthful in a modern style that’s a bit overbearing and bordering on flabby. Tannins are chewy and chalky and the finish is a bit abrupt. Not as much heat on the palate as the nose. Time will tell on this one. Hopefully another decade or more on its side will do the trick but 15% is kinda hard to hide.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 1996 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/7/2025)

    Popped this as part of an Old Vine Party on Saturday, note from day 3 (Tuesday). Raided to the cellar late in the evening and pulled this one to pair against the ‘04/‘06/‘08/‘18 opened earlier. Color is a nice pale burgundy red with no browning like some of the earlier bottles opened. Nose is sporting a lot of clove and raspberry. Medium plus bodied, nice texture, spice cake, nutmeg, molasses and prune but in a good way. Acidity is still fairly lifting and the tannins are big and chewy. 82% Zin, 11% Mataro, 4% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet. Great blend taking in a new level of complexity at 29yrs of age. I’m really enjoying this.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Pagani Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/8/2025)

    Popped for an Old Vine Party on Saturday, note from Day 4 (Wednesday). Pours a purple magenta hue. Nose packed with blue and purple fruits, boysenberry, blueberry, olallieberry and a hint of bramble. Palate is full and ripe showing off the wines youth and the acid makes it really juicy, some nice peppery oak spice warms things up. This one is still a youngster but for near term drinking it’s pretty darned pleasurable. Considering this is day 4 open with just a cork I’d think a nice couple hour decant would be prudent.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2008 Bucklin Zinfandel Old Hill Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    (10/7/2025)

    Popped on Saturday for an Old Vine Party, note from day 3 (Tuesday). Great dark burgundy color, wondering if this is 100% Zinfandel or did Will slip in some Grenache., because of an aged Grenache note on the nose along with Sonoma Valley bramble, black raspberry, coffee bean and raisins. Palate is medium bodied spicy black raspberry, bramble and that coffee bean thing. Tannins are firm and chewy. This one still needs time.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2021 Bucklin Ancient Field Blend Old Hill Ranch

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/8/2025)

    Popped for an Old Vine Party on Saturday, note from day 4 (Wednesday). Youngest wine of the event from probably the oldest vineyard. Similar datk purple nose as the ‘17 Bedrock Pagani. The nose is all about spice, bramble, black pepper, sage, with fresh picked blackberry way in the background. Palate is fresh, ripe and straightforward showing off that blackberry along with blueberry, medium bodied with balanced acidity and oak spice. Finish is long, tangy and chewy. This is really well put together and will really shine with some age.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2006 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard Alexander Valley

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    (10/8/2025)

    From magnum straight out of Fred’s cold storage. Popped on Saturday for an Old Vine Party, note from day 4 (Wednesday). Color is taking on a slightly brownish hue. Nose or raisin spice cake with some molasses. Palate is full, round and fruity. Plums, black cherry, fresh brewed coffee turning spicy. The acidity kicks in and some blood orange emerges along with orange zest. Tannins are pretty tame although noticeable. Still in a nice place given half the nottle was left under cork for 4 days.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    (10/8/2025)

    Popped this for an Old Vine Party on Saturday night, note from day 4 (Wednesday). Raided the cellar late in the party and pulled this one. Didn’t get much of a look as only a few ounces were gone.
    Color is still dark burgundy red turning opaque in the middle. Nose has blackberry, earth and some VA which detracts from the aromatics. Fruit is beautiful, juicy, ripe blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry gush all over the palate. The fruit is bright and refreshing but doesn’t last long. The back end of the plate drops off and we’re left with chewy tannins and a fairly short finish. But man that fruit, makes the whole thing worth the effort.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2016 Bedrock Wine Co. Oakville Farmhouse

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    (10/8/2025)

    Popped on Saturday for an Old Vine Party, note from day 4 (Wednesday). This was another cellar raid late in the evening. A goid 1/2+ of the bottle left. Pours a beautiful purplish garnet. Nose is lively with dried rose petals, red currants, paprika, zinberry, bramble. You know that time when you taste a wine and the first word out of your mouth is “Wow”? It’s kinda like that. Palate is pillowy soft and elegant with no one note overpowering another. Just a seamless blanket of soft red and black fruit a little oak spice and lip pursing acidity that makes your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth. The tannins are still pretty firm but give way to allow the lovely fruit to accompany it through the long finish. Lively now but a long life ahead. Maybe check back in at year 20?

    Read 2 Comments / Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2014 Carlisle Two Acres

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    (10/8/2025)

    Popped for an Old Vine Party on Saturday, nite from day 4 (Wednesday). Only wine that didn’t have any Zinfandel in it aside from the Turley Petite Sirah. Garnet red in the glass, nose of pepper, raspberry, roasted meat, mushroom, forest floor. Palate is smooth as silk, dark berries, red currant, pepper, baking spice and just plain goodness. Finish is long with powdery tannins, crunchy red fruit and love. Mike nailed this one.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2005 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    (10/8/2025)

    Popped for an Old Vine Party on Saturday, note from day 4 (Wednesday). About 1/2 a bottle left under cork. Dark as night, nose of menthol, over-ripe plum, kirsch. Palate is big and rich but not in the normal Petite Sirah way. It’s not dense and thick but extracted. Blackberry, black cherry, black currant, plums, dark chocolate covered raisins. Acidity is in check and the tannins are pretty tame considering the variety. Not old by any means but probably drinking at peak now and for the next 4-5 years.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

Closing

Loved how some of these wines continued to improve over the course of the evening. 2 days later there are still no wines fading other than the Mondavi that was DOA. Just a real fun time. No notes on the 2012 Sky Zinfandel, 2004 Scherrer OMV Mag and 2006 Ridge Pagani as they went home with guests. The ‘04 Pagani was probably WOTN overall. Great time with some great people.

×
×