06 Nov Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Mettler Wines 2017 Lodi Epicenter Old Vine Zinfandel

History, tradition, sustainability and family are four qualities of the Mettler family from Lodi, California. One of Lodi’s oldest farming families, they have been farming wine grapes in the Lodi Appellation since the late 1800s. One of the oldest vineyards on the ranch is planted to Zinfandel. This vineyard is located in the “epicenter” of Lodi’s old vine Zinfandel district and hence the wine is called ‘Epicenter’ Old Vine Zinfandel. The Mettler Family 2017 ‘Epicenter’ Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

The 50-year old vineyard is located in the “epicenter” of Lodi’s old vine Zinfandel district. There are 91 acres planted to “old vine” zinfandel. This vineyard, like all of the vineyards on the Mettler Ranch, is farmed both organically and sustainably. The deep-rooted vines are planted in sandy loam soils and thrive in the Lodi climate which has warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters.

The 2017 Mettler Lodi “Epicenter” Old Vine Zinfandel spends 16 months in 80 percent American and 20 percent French oak. 40 percent of the barrels are neutral, 30 percent are new and 30 percent are one-year old. The resulting wine, which is 14.5 percent alcohol,

The wine is a deep red color. On the nose, dark red cherries, blackberries and boysenberry, as well as a touch of tobacco and cedar, jump out of the glass. On the palate the wine is juicy with drying sandy tannins and a mouthwatering finish.

There are 704 cases of the Mettler Family Vineyards 2017 Lodi “Epicenter” Old Vine Zinfandel, the Please The Palate wine of the week, which retails for $24.99.