Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 335,042 strong:

Register Today!
Ad

Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel 2012 Wine Review

Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel 2012

Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel 2012

Sonoma, United States

Community Score:92/100

Community Reviews: 6

  Add My Review


Price: $61.00

Drink: 2014-2019

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14.8%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Ravenswood

Agent: E&J Gallo Winery Canada Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 95/100

A spectacularly rich and full-bodied Californian Zinfandel from one of the state's best producers. This single vineyard wine sources grapes from the Old Hill parcels in Sonoma that feature Tuscan red hill and gravelly loam soils. For the 2012 vintage there were 1,596 cases produced and the wine was bottled in May 2014.

Zinfandel food pairings: prime rib, cheddar, hamburgers, lamb, liver, nachos.

This Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel 2012 was reviewed on December 3, 2015 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 1999  2006  2008  2007 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

  • BCLDB
  • 657668
  • $34.38 
  • Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Tania Thomas - CSW, WSET ADV rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

From the Old Hill Vineyards with one of the oldest vines in the heart of Sonoma Valley comes this complex and intense blend of 75% Zinfandel and Granache. Impressive black fruit density with a touch of spice. Powerful with plenty of weight. Well structured, with a solid backbone of firm tannins, leading to a smoky-toned finish. Fantastic ageing potential between 10-15 years.
Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Ravenswood's prized Old Hill Zinfandel, from the Old Hill Vineyard in Sonoma Valley. A vineyard that's renowned for having produced Sonoma's first famous Zin, made in 1862 by William Hill. The 2012 is fine wine that will reward those with the patience to cellar for a decade or longer. Beautiful in its infancy, it will only get better over the next 10-15 years. Blueberry, blackberry, plum, eucalyptus, violet, and cedar on the nose. Very well structured, with great texture from the fine tannins, this is a beautiful wine that would complement any fine food, and not just premium cuts of BBQ'd beef, try rich seafood, game, and pasta dishes. Tasted November 2015. 93 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca
Mymi Thesingingsommelier - Sommelier, FWS rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Ravenswood’s logo might be the most tattooed symbol in the wine business…
Since starting the winery in Sonoma County in 1976, Joel Peterson has amassed enormous critical acclaim, a dedicated cult following and has even been nicknamed the Grandfather of Zinfandel.
Always dedicated, tenacious and committed to crafting the best wines possible, he proved that with hard work and a great deal of passion it is absolutely possible even if in the early days, for a decade, the winery’s location was an old tin-roofed shelter, once a woodworking shop making oak toilet seats!!!
A unique attribute to Ravenswood’s success is a long-standing relationship with over 100 independent grape growers. Each vineyard is personally chosen by Joel himself according to their location, age, yield and special flavor characteristics demonstrating Zinfandel’s multiple facets as well as bringing out the very best from the various other varietals grown on those parcels of land.
Ravenswood’s Old Hill vineyard is the oldest in their portfolio with some of the vines planted as far back as the 1880’s.
The 14 acres of vines is located in the heart of Sonoma County and was tended to by Otto Teller who also added a “field blend” which consisted of over 30 different varieties to the existing vineyard when he took over in the early 1980’s.
The 2012 version is a blend of 75% Zinfandel mixed with other black grapes all emanating from the Old Hill vineyard.
Bright bluish purple in the glass with very nice legs.
Pastry, raspberry, almond extract and a little sandalwood on the nose, almost Italian-esque!
A little reserved on the palate at first but as it breathes, it reveals power, great structure, hefty tannins complemented by juicy acidity. Dry, smoky, with raspberry & blackberry coulis and ripe juicy blueberry flavors ending in a long luscious finish.
A robust beast of a wine, delicious now and in the right condition, will age beautifully for at least another 10 years.
Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

A blend of at least 30 grape varieties with 75% Zinfandel, sourced from Sonoma County’s oldest vines. Shows a spicy nose with aromatic cassis, blackberries, some herbal notes and chocolate. Full-bodied palate with dark berry fruit, molasses, meaty aspect and dark chocolate. Soft tannins, well-structured

1 Member would buy this wine again

If you liked the Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel 2012, you might also like these wines:

Ad

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Marco & Vittorio Adriano Red Wine
Barbaresco 2019,
Piedmont D.O.C.G. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 335,042 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award