# Reserve Old Vine Zinfandel (2018)

- **Producer:** Hook Or Crook Cellars
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Zinfandel
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.9%
- **Average price:** €11
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackcurrant, blueberry, black pepper, liquorice, vanilla, cedar, smoke, leather

## About this wine

Hook Or Crook Cellars, created under Thomas Allen Wine Estates, focuses on crafting high-value, appellation-specific wines from Lodi, California. The Lodi AVA is recognized internationally for its legacy of old-vine Zinfandel vineyards rooted in sandy loam soils along the Mokelumne and Cosumnes rivers. The region features a classic Mediterranean climate, where warm days are balanced by cooling evening delta breezes, offering ideal conditions for producing expressively structured red wines.

## Interesting facts

- The 2018 vintage earned an outstanding 99 Points, Double Gold, and Best of California honors at the California State Fair.
- Grapes are harvested from historic old-vine blocks planted in Lodi's iconic sandy loam river basin soils.
- Hook Or Crook Cellars is part of Thomas Allen Wine Estates, dedicated to high-quality California winemaking.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium tannins and rich, fruit-driven profile pair seamlessly with charred meats, barbecue, and savory dishes featuring sweet spices or herbs. Its balanced acidity cleanses the palate when paired with fatty proteins while harmonizing with rich tomato-based or wine-based sauces.

## Wine making process

Crafted from established old-vine Zinfandel vineyards in the Lodi AVA, the grapes undergo temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks to extract primary varietal character. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes aging with select oak treatment to add subtle structure, warmth, and integrated spice to the finished profile.