Carol Shelton 2000 "Rocky Reserve" Rockpile road vineyard

[Bucko]

Here are my notes on two other Zins of hers that I tasted with her while judging at the CA State Fair. She opened them at the judges BBQ dinner and they needed big food like that to tame them down a bit:

2000 Carol Shelton, Zinfandel, Monga Zin, Old Vines, Lopez Vineyard, Cucamonga Valley, California, $24, 671 cases. Both of these Zins are very young, recently bottled, still with malo aromas. Putting that aside, this wine is very dense in the glass with deep aromas. Very fruity. The sweet blackberries, mocha, vanilla, moderate tannins and brisk acidity make a real statement. The wine carries the 15.6% alcohol well at this point. 90/89.

2000 Carol Shelton, Zinfandel, Wild Thing, Old Vines, Cox Vineyard, Mendocino County, California, $28, 719 cases. Made with organic grapes, this monster has red fruit, plums and mocha on the nose and palate, with black pepper charging in at mid-palate. Moderate tannins, crisp acids and a long finish wrap up this offering. 16.5% alcohol. 89/87.