Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel

Lodi, California, USA

2021

2020

2019

93

TP

Tasting Notes

The Rous Vineyard Ancient Vine Zinfandel’s characteristics are unforgettable. Multi-dimensional in aromas and flavors, this generously rich Zinfandel offers plush aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, brown spices, clove, caramel, and slight vanilla, finishing with well-rounded tannins and a lingering dark fruit finish.

Vineyards

The Rous Vineyard, grafted entirely onto St. George rootstock, was planted in 1909, making this vintage being from spectacular 111-year-old vines. These magnificent, twisted, gnarly, head-trained Zinfandel vines yield fruit with incredible concentration of flavors. The soil is a mixture of very sandy and sandy loam.

Winemaking

Following hand harvesting, these precious grape clusters were fermented in our small rotary fermenter. After undergoing extended fermentation and maceration, the newly pressed wine was transferred into small French oak barrels and placed in our underground caverns. Hand-blasted by local miners, many whose families came for gold in the 1800’s, these caverns remain a natural 60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round temperature to ensure a fuller, richer and finer wine of true varietal character. Careful handling of these unique grapes from start to finish yields a wine that is true to world-acclaimed Lodi Zinfandels.

Technical Information

Vintage:: 2021
Alcohol:: 14.5%
Region:: Lodi, California
RS:: 3.52G/L
Varietals:: 100% Rous Zinfandel
PH:: 3.79
TA:: 5.88G/L

Accolades

93 points

Tasting Panel

April 2025

This vineyard was planted in 1909; its twisted, gnarly 112-year-old vines are grafted onto St. George rootstock in deep, loamy sandy soil. They yield a mature-tasting, ripe, and savory red with notes of melting dark chocolate, plum liqueur, and sage. According to Lodi expert and Tasting Panel editor-at-large Randy Caparoso, “Ironstone’s finest, of course, is its Rous Vineyard Zinfandel, known for floral/violet and blueberry/cherry qualities very specific to this vineyard. It’s very distinctive and one of the finest in Lodi in terms of layering and balance.” He adds, “This section of land is called the Victor Triangle, located on the east side of the Mokelumne River AVA, centered around the small census-designated place of Victor, that is known to have pockets of particularly deep (90–100 feet) sandy soils. The visible impact of these soils is lower weight clusters and smaller berries.

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Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel 2021

2021 Vintage

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Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel 2021

2021 Vintage

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Ironstone Reserve

Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel 2021

2021 Vintage - Tasting Notes

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Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel

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91

WE

Tasting Notes

The Rous Vineyard Ancient Vine Zinfandel’s characteristics are unforgettable. Multi-dimensional in aromas and flavors, this generously rich Zinfandel offers plush aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, brown spices, clove, caramel, and slight vanilla, finishing with well-rounded tannins and a lingering dark fruit finish.

Vineyards

The Rous Vineyard, grafted entirely onto St. George rootstock, was planted in 1909, making this vintage being from spectacular 111-year-old vines. These magnificent, twisted, gnarly, head-trained Zinfandel vines yield fruit with incredible concentration of flavors. The soil is a mixture of very sandy and sandy loam. Fully mature grapes were hand-harvested in early September 2020.

Winemaking

Following hand harvesting, these precious grape clusters were fermented in our small rotary fermenter. After undergoing extended fermentation and maceration, the newly pressed wine was transferred into small French oak barrels and placed in our underground caverns. Hand-blasted by local miners, many whose families came for gold in the 1800’s, these caverns remain a natural 60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round temperature to ensure a fuller, richer and finer wine of true varietal character. Careful handling of these unique grapes from start to finish yields a wine that is true to world-acclaimed Lodi Zinfandels.

Technical Information

Vintage:: 2020
Alcohol:: 14.5%
Region:: Lodi, California
RS:: 3.2G/L
Varietals:: 100% Rous Zinfandel
PH:: 3.79
TA:: 6.2G/L

Accolades

91 points

Wine Enthusiast

October 2024

This wine is opulent, with aromas of blackberry, huckleberry, violet and dried herbs on the nose. The flavors on the palate are black plum, cassis and black currant compote, morphing into spiced bittersweet chocolate and a long, silky finish. Decant and enjoy with braised lamb.

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Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel 2020

2020 Vintage

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Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel 2020

2020 Vintage

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Ironstone Reserve

Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel

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Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel

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Tasting Notes

The reserve 2019 Ancient Vine Zinfandel’s characteristics are unforgettable. Multi-dimensional in aromas and flavors, this generously rich Zinfandel offers plush aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, brown spices, clove, caramel, and slight vanilla, finishing with well-rounded tannins and a lingering dark fruit finish.

Vineyards

The Rous Vineyard, grafted entirely onto St. George rootstock, was planted in 1909, making this vintage being from spectacular 110-year-old vines! These magnificent, twisted, gnarly, head-trained Zinfandel vines yield fruit with incredible concentration of flavors. The soil is a mixture of very sandy and sandy loam.

Vintage Notes

2019 was a mild and normal summer in Lodi without harvest precipitation. There were no extended heat spells.

Winemaking

The grapes are hand-harvested. Fully mature grapes were harvested in early September 2019. This reserve wine was aged for 10 months in small French oak barrels. Aging takes place in the winery’s underground caverns that were hand-blasted by local miners, many whose families came for gold in the 1800s.

Technical Information

Vintage:: 2019
Alcohol:: 14.5%
Region:: Lodi, California
RS:: 3.2G/L
Varietals:: 100% Rous Zinfandel
PH:: 3.74
TA:: 6.1G/L

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Ironstone Reserve

Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel 2019

2019 Vintage

Fact Sheets

Ironstone Reserve

Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel

Front Label - Non-Vintage

Labels

Ironstone Reserve

Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel

Non-Vintage

Product Images

Ironstone Reserve

Reserve Rous Vineyards 'Ancient Vines' Zinfandel

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