2011 Hartford Court Zinfandel Old Vines Highwire Vineyard

Dark purple. Sappy, liqueur-like aromas of fresh cherry and raspberry. Intense and concentrated but lively, with appealing sweetness to its sappy red fruit flavors. The raspberry notes lingers with excellent tenacity on the finish, which is lifted by zesty acidity and shows a touch of youthfully bitter tannins. Made from century-old vines, half head-trained and half trained on wires.

A wine of considerable muscle and depth, the 2011 Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard stands apart for its plushness and richness. Layers of dark, floral-infused red/black hued fruit saturate the palate. The 2011 is gorgeous today, but it should also age nicely for at least a handful of years. The Highwire is one of the more overtly fruit-driven Zinfandels in this range. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. Proprietor Don Hartford and winemaker Jeff Stewart have done a fabulous job with these new releases. It is rare for a winery to excel with so many different wines across three varieties and a bevy of sites. Each of these wines is unique and distinctive, not to mention that virtually all of the wines are immensely pleasing as well. This year, I was especially taken with the 2011 Zinfandels, wines that all have tremendous energy and vibrancy. At times, the Hartford Zinfandels can be quite Pinot-like in style. Tel. (800) 588-0234