Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel

Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel is a 100% Zinfandel wine from California's Lodi and Amador County regions, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2019 vintage earned 91 points from Wine Enthusiast, and the 2021 vintage took Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition — consistent critical recognition that underscores the quality Bogle extracts from its decades-old vines.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Clarksburg, California (grapes from Lodi & Amador County)  |  100% Zinfandel  |  Producer: Bogle Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Bogle Vineyards, a family-owned winery based in Clarksburg, California, sources the fruit for this bottling from head-trained, dry-farmed Zinfandel vines ranging from 60 to 80 years old across Lodi and Amador County. According to the winemaker, these dry-farmed vines produce small, concentrated grape clusters that yield intensely rich wines — a direct result of stressed vines channeling energy into fewer berries. After harvest, the wine is aged for 10 months in two-year-old American oak barrels, a deliberate choice that allows the fruit's natural intensity to lead while oak influence remains supportive rather than dominant.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Spiced raspberry and strawberry rise immediately, followed by deeper notes of orange pekoe black tea, clove, and vanilla. The nose is generous without being heavy, signaling the concentration of old-vine fruit underneath.

Taste: The palate opens with a sumptuous rush of blackberry and black cherry, moving through boysenberry and fresh dark fruit at mid-palate. An elevated acidity gives the wine real energy, while well-integrated oak contributes subtle nutmeg and star anise. Tannins land with a resolved, chalky texture that frames the fruit without overwhelming it.

Finish: The finish is long and dry, with toasty tannins and lingering berry character that slowly fades into warm spice. A full body and good depth of fruit keep the flavors echoing well after the last sip.

How to Drink Bogle Old Vine Zin

This Zinfandel shows best at cellar temperature — around 60–65°F — poured into a large-bowled glass to let the aromatics open up. It drinks beautifully on its own with no decanting required, though 20 minutes of air helps the spice notes emerge fully.

• Zinfandel Sangria: The jammy berry core and warm spice hold up against citrus and brandy without losing their identity.
• Red Wine Spritzer: A splash of sparkling water on a hot afternoon tempers the 14.5% ABV while amplifying the fresh fruit notes.
• Mulled Wine: The existing clove and cinnamon-adjacent spice in the wine makes it a natural foundation for warming winter preparations.

Best For

• Weeknight grilling — the smoky tannins stand up to charred meats without requiring a special-occasion price
• Introducing someone to old-vine Zinfandel as a category
• Building a casual California wine collection with proven critical recognition
• Holiday entertaining where a crowd-pleasing, full-bodied red is needed by the case

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bogle Old Vine Zin taste like? It delivers concentrated blackberry, black cherry, and boysenberry fruit with undertones of clove, nutmeg, and vanilla from 10 months in American oak. The mouthfeel is full-bodied with chalky, well-resolved tannins and a long, dry finish.

How does Bogle Old Vine Zin compare to Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red? Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red is a Zinfandel-based blend that incorporates other red varietals, giving it a slightly more complex, layered profile, while Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel is 100% Zinfandel and delivers a more direct, fruit-forward expression of the grape. Both sit at a similar price tier and source from old California vines, but Bogle's single-varietal approach tends to emphasize pure berry intensity.

Is Bogle Old Vine Zin good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the concentrated old-vine fruit, balanced acidity, and moderate tannin structure make it a satisfying sipper on its own, especially when served slightly below room temperature around 60–65°F.

Where is Bogle Old Vine Zin made? Bogle Vineyards is headquartered in Clarksburg, California, in the Sacramento River Delta region. The Zinfandel grapes for this bottling are sourced from old-vine vineyards in Lodi and Amador County, two of California's most respected Zinfandel-growing areas.

What foods pair well with Bogle Old Vine Zin? Smoked brisket or pulled pork — the wine's smoky tannins and dark fruit mirror the char and sweetness of barbecue. Aged cheddar or Gouda — fat and salt amplify the berry core. Pepperoni or sausage pizza — classic pairing that works because the acidity cuts through the grease. Dark chocolate — the wine's clove and vanilla notes echo the bitterness. Lamb burgers with rosemary — herbal notes complement the spice in the oak.

What sizes does Bogle Old Vine Zin come in? Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Bogle Old Vine Zin worth the price? Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel positions firmly in the value tier of California Zinfandel, delivering old-vine concentration and consistent critical scores — including 91 points from Wine Enthusiast — at a fraction of what many old-vine Zinfandels from Lodi and Amador County command. It regularly over-delivers for its price class.

Why Bogle Old Vine Zin?

The defining advantage here is the sourcing: 60-to-80-year-old, head-trained, dry-farmed Zinfandel vines that naturally produce small, concentrated clusters most wineries at this price point simply cannot access. That old-vine intensity earned the 2021 vintage a Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the 2020 vintage a Double Gold at the Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. The 10-month aging regime in two-year-old American oak keeps the fruit honest — this is a wine built around the vineyard, not the barrel. For drinkers seeking serious Zinfandel character without the boutique markup, few bottles in the category compete as consistently.