2021 Carol Shelton Piazazz Old Vine Zinfandel [WS91][WE90]

Producer: Carol Shelton 
Region: Lodi, California 
Blend: 97% Zinfandel, 3% Merlot 
Year: 2021 

Retail Price: $32.00 
Our Price: $14.99* 

Carol Shelton is widely cited as the most awarded winemaker in the United States with countless Gold Medals and prestigious awards to her name.  She earned the title "Winemaker of the Year" five times and has been named one of eight "Pioneer Women Winemakers of Sonoma County".  In 2014, one of her Zins made it to Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year.  Carol Shelton was among the first women to graduate from UC Davis with a degree in enology.  She worked at several renowned cellars and with industry giants like Andre Tchelistcheff and Robert Mondavi.  In 2000, she and her husband, Mitch Mackenzie, launched their own brand with Zinfandel as the signature grape.  Preferring to concentrate on quality over quantity, they make only 5,000 cases a year.  Carol Shelton is renowned for her Zins and nicknamed the Queen of Zinfandel in the industry.  She makes delicious, full-flavored wines and is considered a guru of single-vineyard Zinfandel.  The 2021 Carol Shelton Piazazz Old Vine Zinfandel is well-balanced with plushy tannins and juicy acidity.  It's full of brilliant wild cherry jam on a milk chocolate-marshmallow background.  The winery describes it as "s’mores with cherry jam".  There are notes of ripe, juicy blackberry and blueberry with subtle floral tones, star anise and clove spices.  This is classic old-style Zin and shows what Lodi Zin is all about.  It's also the final vintage of this wine as the vines were pulled out after this harvest.  Don't miss out!

Wine Spectator, 91 Points 

"Zesty and briary, this is what Lodi Zin is all about. Offers appealing flavors of cherry and plum laced with white pepper and grilled herb notes before finishing with lively tannins. Drink now through 2031. 537 cases made." 

Wine Enthusiast, 90 Points 

"Plushy tannins give the palate a friendly welcome and are well met by the ripe, juicy blackberry and blueberry fruit notes. There are subtle floral tones that just whisper in the background. Well-integrated oak adds star anise and clove spices. An overall well-balanced and fun Zinfandel to sip and savor." 

Winemaker Notes: 

"We chose to honor Charlie Piazza’s half century of growing in Lodi by making an anagram of his name to christen this classic old-style Zin. These gnarly head-trained vines deliver brilliant wild cherry jam on a milk chocolate-marshmallow background. S’more, please!  (***Sadly, this is the final vintage, the vines were pulled out after this harvest). Zippy Bing cherry pie in a graham cracker crust, creamy Hershey’s milk chocolate and a bit of toasted marshmallow—not sweet but soft and round - balanced by juicy acidity, with a creamy caramello oak and a long cherry finish. S’mores with cherry jam!" 

Alcohol: 14.4% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Discounts do not apply to wines like this one currently on sale.