Seghesio 2020 Sonoma Zinfandel

£23.30
Tasting notes
Lovely juicy black fruits with good tannins and acidity; some cedar and spices mixed in too. Full bodied, flavourful and full of fruit – all those "fulls" give you the picture. Great with full bodied dishes and handles a curry with aplomb.

Why we recommend this wine
Not that we always agree with him, but Seghesio is rated as a four star producer by Robert Parker. When we visited California some time back we were somewhat fearful of the reputation of the Zinfandels; Ravenswood winery even had a T-shirt with the words "No wimpy wines"! But they were great and this is an excellent example.

The wine
A blend comprised of Zinfandel from vineyards in Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander valleys. On average it is crafted from a selection of 172 lots each vintage. Each of these hundreds of small lot wines are individually assessed and tasted for character and quality. From there, the winemaking team assembles a blend to be consistent in its representation of place and quality.

The wine estate
Seghesio Family Vineyards’ roots are firmly planted in Zinfandel, as the founder, Edoardo Seghesio, first planted this historic varietal on their Alexander Valley Home Ranch in 1895.
Their philosophy in the vineyards and the cellar has always been informed by their fervent belief in Zinfandel as a world-class variety worthy of the same care, attention, and methods that would otherwise be reserved for varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. In fact, in the cellar they employ numerous techniques including the use of open-top fermenters, rigorous fruit sorting, and the cultivation of indigenous yeast strains that are more typical of Burgundian winemaking.
For producers around the world, varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir have a spiritual home somewhere in the Old World – Bordeaux and Burgundy, respectively. There is no old world benchmark for Zinfandel – instead it has found its spiritual home in America and, they’d argue, at Seghesio in Sonoma County.
Seghesio Family Vineyards is a certified "Sustainable Winegrower" and farms organically.
In 2011 Seghesio became part of the Crimson Wine Group, a public company investing in boutique wineries of which they currently own five.
seghesio.com

Food and wine
Pair with grilled meats, pizza, or tomato-based pastas; or try it with spicy salamis and hard cheeses. Also see our guide to pairing food and wine here.

Did you know?
Seghesio's winery in Healdsburg, California has bocce courts, and you're welcome to play while you drink their wine and enjoy your own picnic at tables under the trees. One of the best ways we know to while away an afternoon in Sonoma.