2014 Carol Shelton 'Wild Thing' Old Vine Mendocino Zinfandel
The first job of a wine is to be delicious, and on that count, the 2014 Carol Shelton "Wild Thing" Old Vine Mendocino Zinfandel ($20) is a resounding success. I have been loving it for the better part of a century (the 21st). But wait, there's more. While packed with spicy aromas and dark fruit flavors, this wine also has a lush, plush texture and seriously smooth finish. It's sourced from 60-year-old zinfandel vines, with 10 percent carignane, 9 percent petite sirah and 1 percent alicante bouschet in the mix. A staple at summer barbecues, this rich red also plays well with meaty stews and soups and winter-vegetable terrines. And boy, does it love lamb and duck.
Available at 1st Grand, Red Lion, Liquor Barrel (Golden Valley), the Vintage, Hy-Vee (Rochester), Cheers, Ken & Norm's and others.
Bill Ward
