Using the term, Old Vine Cuvée, is a fancy way of saying that the wine is made from grapes that are sourced from many different places. It isn't exactly how the term is intended to be used and in this case, the usage casts shadows rather than sunshine. Certainly there is nothing wrong with fashioning a multi-appellation Zinfandel blend and, I suppose, since the wine is blended with other wine to achieve consistency, it can be referred to as a Cuvée. Technically.
The Four Vines closure is natural cork. The wine is light to medium bodied and the initial aroma in the glass is pleasant, but, is quickly overwhelmed with fumes (alcohol fumes) and vanilla. On the palate the wine is fruity and acidic, with layers of blackberry and plum. The finish is pretty much lingering oak (vanilla).
The deal killer for moi is the oak. Don't read me wrong, wine aged in oak barrels can be quite lovely, but over-oaked wine is a flat turn off to me. And, I'm sensitive to it, which is a disclaimer of sorts. Unfortunately, the over use of oak is often used to fix lesser quality wine, to make it drink better.
Overall, the Four Vines isn't bad. If you are partial to zins like Earthquake or Seven Deadlies, this might be a good substitute for either at a better price. You should be able to find it for under ten dollars American.
As Always,
TWC
Photo Credit (unless otherwise noted): ©TWC, all rights reserved
