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Located 2 hours east of San Francisco in the San Joaquin Valley, Lodi gets overshadowed by at least half a dozen more famous California wine regions. Yet Lodi has had vineyards since the 1850s and currently accounts for 25% of all wine grapes produced in California and 40% of California Zinfandel. Of course, Lodi produces a lot of bargain-priced supermarket wine. But as Lodi’s many old vine vineyards are being rediscovered, the region’s reputation for bold, full-bodied, and delicious Zinfandel has been growing ever higher. According to the winery, the Old Vine Zinfandel “has aromas of ripe bing cherry, anise and boysenberry jam. On the palate it has rounded tannins, carries a note of raspberry, and finishes with a hint of caramel. It provides an excellent accompaniment to grilled chicken, steak or lamb and most pasta dishes.”
Producing low-priced wine is not difficult in California – as long as one uses undistinguished central valley grapes. Yet Castle Rock Winery sells premium, handcrafted wines from the best appellations in California, Oregon and Washington at prices that match those wines labeled “California.” Castle Rock Winery’s secret to providing “appellation wines at affordable prices” is to operate as a kind of “virtual winery,” owning neither its own vineyards nor a winery. Instead it maintains close, long-term relationships with around forty growers in such areas as Monterey County, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Willamette Valley and Colombia Valley and leases state-of-the-art winemaking facilities in all three states. Winemaker August "Joe" Briggs works closely with the growers to ensure they produce the best quality fruit while overseeing the winemaking at the same time. This unique method of operating allows Castle Rock to avoid the “money pits” of land and fancy buildings that sink many wineries and focus everything on securing the best grapes and crafting delicious wines. Since the beginning in 1994, Castle Rock has focused particularly on Pinot Noir, making distinct bottlings from such key Pinot districts as Carneros, Russian River Valley and Willamette Valley. However, over the years the winery has also branched out into other popular varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Riesling. Though an oft-repeated wine country adage goes, “it takes a fortune to make a small fortune in the wine business,” Castle Rock Winery has shown there is a way to make captivating wines for the discerning drinker without deep pockets.
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Appellation(s) | Lodi (Inland Valleys) |
| Winery | Castle Rock |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Color | Red |
| Varietal(s) | Zinfandel |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Bottle Size | 7.5 x 30.5 |
| Case Size | 32.0 x 24.5 x 31.0 |
| Alcohol | 14.0% |
| Product Code | CA21LZ |
| UPC | 083837006308 |
91 points – James Suckling; 87 points (Best Buy) – Wine Enthusiast.
On the nose, this wine has dried and ripe berries, cherry, and notes of licorice. The palate is mouthfilling and rich with plums, raisins, and black pepper. Finishes with mild tannins and a hint of caramel.