Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel

Name: Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel
Brand: Cline Cellars
SKU: 3e446b7f8f4a46463644804ef86d1858
Price: 10.41 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 87 (88 reviews)

Contra Costa County, USA

- Avg Price (ex-tax)
- € 15 / 750ml

3.5 from 131 User Ratings
87 / 100 88 Critic Reviews
Style Red - Rich and Intense
Grape Variety Zinfandel
Food Pairing Lamb

- Depending on the vintage, this wine may be labeled as either Contra Costa County or California.
  
  Critic tasting note: (2020 vintage) "There's a delicacy to this Zinfandel due in large part to the vibrancy of the fruit and elevated acid structure. While the nose leads with oak tones of fresh cedar wood, chocolate and nutmeg, the palate opens up to vivacious fruit. notes of black and red plum, red currant, rhubarb, mission fig, boysenberry and blueberry." - Wine Enthusiast
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Highlights

Winery

Cline Cellars

83 products ranged between €7 - €39 (Avg. price ex tax)

Region or Appellation

Contra Costa County

San Francisco Bay / Central Coast / California / USA

Grape Variety / Blend

Zinfandel

Zinfandel and Primitivo After 30 years of discussion and...

Style

Red Wine

Red - Rich and Intense

Food Pairing

Lamb

Lamb is a natural partner for many red wines, although there are...

- Ranked third for number of awards won among wines from this region: the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition awarded the 2021 Gold and the Sunset International Wine Competition awarded the 2020 vintage Gold.
- This is the most searched for wine from the region (by Wine-Searcher users). Greater numbers of users have been searching for this wine compared to a year ago.
- - This Contra Costa County wine has received good scores from various critics.

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Details

Analytical Data

Alcohol ABV: 14.5 - 15%

Awards

(10)

Gold

2021 Vintage

Awarded: 2024

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Silver

2021 Vintage

Awarded: 2023

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Silver

2021 Vintage

Awarded: 2023

California State Fair

Silver
Best of Class of Appellation

2020 Vintage

Awarded: 2022

California State Fair

Gold

2020 Vintage

Awarded: 2022

Sunset International Wine Competition

Silver Medal

2018 Vintage

Awarded: 2020

The TEXSOM International Wine Awards

Bronze

2017 Vintage

Awarded: 2019

California State Fair

Bronze

2017 Vintage

Awarded: 2019

The TEXSOM International Wine Awards

Silver

2017 Vintage

Awarded: 2019

Central Coast Wine Competition

Silver

2017 Vintage

Awarded: 2019

Sommeliers Choice Awards

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Suggested Dishes to Pair With This Wine

Short rib taco Main Course: With pickled red cabbage; Contains: coriander; Western

Tortilla, beef Main Course: Contains: coriander; Mexican

Tamales Main Course: Contains: coriander, chilli; Mexican

Venison Main Course: With beetroot, caramelized chestnuts, chocolate and juniper; Argentinian

Details

Analytical Data

Alcohol ABV: 14.5 - 15%

Awards

(10)

Gold

2021 Vintage

Awarded: 2024

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Silver

2021 Vintage

Awarded: 2023

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Silver

2021 Vintage

Awarded: 2023

California State Fair

Silver
Best of Class of Appellation

2020 Vintage

Awarded: 2022

California State Fair

Gold

2020 Vintage

Awarded: 2022

Sunset International Wine Competition

Silver Medal

2018 Vintage

Awarded: 2020

The TEXSOM International Wine Awards

Bronze

2017 Vintage

Awarded: 2019

California State Fair

Bronze

2017 Vintage

Awarded: 2019

The TEXSOM International Wine Awards

Silver

2017 Vintage

Awarded: 2019

Central Coast Wine Competition

Silver

2017 Vintage

Awarded: 2019

Sommeliers Choice Awards

See more See less

Critics Scores & Reviews

(88)

All vintages

87 / 100

88 scores

95 - 100

90 - 94

85 - 89

80 - 84

75 - 79

0 - 74

90 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2020 Vintage Tasted: Mar 2023

There's a delicacy to this Zinfandel due in large part to the vibrancy of the fruit and elevated acid structure. While the nose leads with oak tones of fresh cedar wood, chocolate and nutmeg, the palate opens up to vivacious fruit. notes of black and red plum, red currant, rhubarb, mission fig, boysenberry and blueberry.

About Wine Enthusiast

87 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2019 Vintage Tasted: Oct 2021

Charred oak aromas complete with good, juicy raspberry and blackberry flavors in this medium- to full-bodied wine. Light tannins keep it relatively smooth in texture. Jim Gordon

About Wine Enthusiast

87 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2018 Vintage Tasted: Aug 2020

A strong aroma of dill and sawdust gets this wine off to an awkward start before it smooths out on the palate and shows good ripe plum flavors in addition to more toasted, oaky spices. Jim Gordon

About Wine Enthusiast

PRO Jancis Robinson

2018 Vintage Tasted: Mar 2020

See score for this and 2 more vintages with a PRO subscription.

About Jancis Robinson

89 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2017 Vintage Tasted: Aug 2019

Intricate smoke and Indian spice aromas give this full-bodied wine a dramatic start before black cherry and blackberry join in on the palate. It has moderate tannins for good grip. Jim Gordon

About Wine Enthusiast

87 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2016 Vintage Tasted: Dec 2018

Very ripe, almost sweet fruit flavors pour forth from this full-bodied wine, accented by baking spices like vanilla and cinnamon. It feels very smooth and soft in texture. Jim Gordon

About Wine Enthusiast

86 / 100 Gismondi on Wine

2016 Vintage Tasted: Jun 2018

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel has deep roots that go back nearly a century in the sandy soils of Contra Costa County’s Oakley vineyards. Old or ancient, anyway you cut it this wine has pedigree, but it can’t escape its warm site. The nose is slightly reduced with smoky, meaty aromas. The palate is awash in super ripe raisiny fruit with notes of cola and chocolate. Ready to drink, and your best bet is a side of smoky barbecue ribs. Pricey for what you get in BC. (Anthony Gismondi).

About Gismondi on Wine

89 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2015 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2017

It's great to find both lots of fruit and good structure in a Zin, especially at such a reasonable price. Spicy aromas like vanilla and nutmeg precede vivid and ripe fruit flavors and more of those oaky spices on the palate where firm tannins and a bite of acidity give a mouthwatering balance.

About Wine Enthusiast

88 / 100 Falstaff

2014 Vintage Tasted: Dec 2016

Mittleres Rubingranat, Ockerreflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Zart ätherisch, etwas Minze und Eukalyptus, eingelegte Kirschen, etwas Oregano und Zitruszesten. Saftig, Nuancen von Dörrobst, etwas Karamell, dezente Süße, Nougat, dezenz salziger Nachhall.

About Falstaff

88 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2012 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2013

Perfumed in cinnamon-flowery aromatics, this well-valued Zin is softly spiced, lush and smooth, drinkable with black cherry flavor and plenty of personality.

About Wine Enthusiast

88 / 100 Gismondi on Wine

2010 Vintage Tasted: Dec 2012

Ninety-seven percent of Cline's Ancient Vines Zin comes from the oldest vines in Lodi and Oakley. The nose is rich and warm with spicy liquorice blackberry notes mixed with cedar and red fruits. The attack is round and supple with fresh boysenberry and candied black cherry fruit flavours. A slightly more intense version of the regular zin. Try this with grilled steak or meaty pasta sauces. (Anthony Gismondi).

About Gismondi on Wine

83 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2009 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2011

Simple and hot, with unevenly ripened flavors of raspberries and mint. Some portion of Cline's very old vines in Oakley add richness.

About Wine Enthusiast

85 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2007 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2009

Rich in spicy, briary berry-cherry and chocolate fruit, with ultra-smooth tannins, and just enough acidity to cut through barbecue sauce. It's a bit sweet and Porty on its own.

About Wine Enthusiast

87 / 100 Gismondi on Wine

2006 Vintage Tasted: Apr 2008

Spicy, cedar bark, licorice, blackberry, floral nose. Dry, round, fresh palate with boysenberry, black cherry, cedar, peppery, rooty flavours. Simple, fresh, easy style with light tannins on the finish. (Anthony Gismondi).

About Gismondi on Wine

86 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2006 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2008

Cline has done a very nice job with this Zin, which comes partly from Lodi. Although it's very soft and won't age, it has a velvet and silk purity that carries rich flavors of cherries, raspberries, licorice, sweet vanilla and pepper.

About Wine Enthusiast

90 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2004 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2005

From vineyards in Lodi and Contra Costa County, an enormously enjoyable Zin that shows its hot climate origins, but maintains balance and integrity. The cassis, cherry, chocolate and oatmeal-raisin cookie flavors finish in a swirl of acidity and dusty tannins.

About Wine Enthusiast

87 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2003 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2005

Rather sweet in fruity extract, with upfront cherry, chocolate, cassis and sweet anise flavors. The texture is sensationally soft and beguiling. Try with pork tenderloin in plum sauce.

About Wine Enthusiast

84 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

1999 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2002

Stiff tannins and a fair amount of acid on the palate make the black plum and smoke flavors in the mouth and on the finish that much more dark and sturdy. Opens with peppery heat layered with soil and red berry.

About Wine Enthusiast

89 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

1998 Vintage Tasted: Jan 2001

Big, toothsome wine, chewy and assertive. Cline fans will recognize the style: brambly, peppery, with enormous vitality and punch. Bright, spicy fruit backed with good acids and just enough toast.

About Wine Enthusiast

89 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

1997 Vintage Tasted: Jan 1999

From Zin specialists who manage to find some of the oldest vines in the state, in out-of-the-way places. This is tannic right now; very jammy with lots of stuffing that needs time to settle down. Try after 2001.

About Wine Enthusiast

85 / 100 Wine Enthusiast

2005 Vintage

Cline has access to some pretty old vineyards in Contra Costa, the “opposite coast” from San Francisco, and they do a nice job of crafting the grapes into easy, relatively inexpensive wines. This one is upfront in jammy cherry, blueberry and chocolate fruit, and finishes dry and spicy.

About Wine Enthusiast

90 / 100 Wine Spectator

2022 Vintage Tasted: May 2025

About Wine Spectator

88 / 100 Wine Spectator

2021 Vintage Tasted: Aug 2023

About Wine Spectator

88 / 100 Wine Spectator

2019 Vintage Tasted: Dec 2021

About Wine Spectator

Where more than 24 Critics scores exist, only the first 24 are displayed.

For completeness we may include critic scores in our aggregation that we do not display.

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User Ratings

(131)

3.5

131 ratings

Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel, Contra Costa County, USA

Good

2016 Vintage Saved: 25-Dec-2023

应该是3.5分性价比不错的酒，唯一问题是酒劲儿太显了点儿。

Very Good

Saved: 17-Mar-2023

great Zin, re buy.

Very Good

2015 Vintage Saved: 14-Feb-2021

We have no power tonight so I blindly chose this Zinfandel. It’s a great wine and under-rated. Strong pepper and alcohol. Loved the evening without luxuries of power or WiFi. Who needs it??? Just enjoy the wine and the night.

Excellent

Saved: 24-Nov-2019

Very smooth , velvety

Very Good

2015 Vintage Saved: 13-Oct-2018

soft on the palate. sweet fruit forward. yes Jeff. ok sheena

Good

2016 Vintage Saved: 24-Aug-2018

Contra Coasta County 2016 Very drinkable. Reasonably priced.

Very Good

Saved: 16-Apr-2017

Great with lamb. Strong. Intense. Not delicate. Nice everyday price.

Excellent

Saved: 10-Nov-2016

Serious delicious and a good deal for a wine that tastes this good.

Good

Saved: 10-Apr-2016

Just okay. Don't want to buy again.

Very Good

Saved: 24-Jan-2016

Nice dark grape, medium-full body, very smooth finish, intense flavor, dark fruit and light chocolate notes

Vintages Learn more

Browse through and learn what happened during different wine vintages. A useful resource for hunting down that rare bottle or a birthday-year wine for a loved one’s special day.

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Price History

Worldwide average retail price per 750ml, ex tax EUR € from Dec 2023 to Nov 2025

Current Product

Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel Contra Costa County, USA

Benchmark

Zinfandel from Contra Costa County

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Availability Over Time

Number of offers from our merchants from Dec 2023 to Nov 2025

Current Product

Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel Contra Costa County, USA

Benchmark

Zinfandel from Contra Costa County

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Search Rank Over Time

Popularity relative to other wines, spirits and beers , irrespective of vintage, based on the number of searches from Dec 2023 to Nov 2025

Current Product

Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel Contra Costa County, USA

Benchmark

Zinfandel from Contra Costa County

Please login or subscribe to PRO to view data from the last ten years.

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Wine-Searcher also produces detailed reports for market insights into the industry.Learn more

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