2012 Bucklin, Zinfandel,The Ancient Upper 5th Vineyard, Somona Valley.
Will Bucklin’s wonderful new Ancient release from a vineyard across Highway 12 from his family’s Old Hill Ranch is a heritage Zinfandel field blend that shows the old vine character and charm you’d expect from vines planted in the late 1800’s. This tiny site delivers hillside intensity and complexity and is on par with the likes of Bedrock, Pagani, Lytton and his own Old Hill, but is seriously limited with only about 60 cases being released, so if you want a true historic California treasure you’d better get cracking, as this beauty won’t be around long. The 2012 Bucklin The Upper 5th Vineyard Ancient Zinfandel Field Blend shows floral and spice tones and has a deep garnet hue with Zin fruit leading the way, mountain raspberry, cherry and loganberry along with spiced plum, minty/fennel, chalky stones, earth, cedar and hint of framboise. This wine doesn’t feels heavy or hot, though it reaches about 14.7%, it is poised, vivid and balanced, remarkably smooth tannins and a juicy bit of acidity keeps things fresh and dynamic on the palate, the mix of other black grapes for which these heritage wines are famous for really adds to the overall pleasure and depth, this is a very intriguing and compelling Zinfandel, I think it’s a steal for the price, drink over the next decade.
($29 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
