2022 Bucklin Estate ‘Bambino’ Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel

Opens with a fruit-bomb of wild berry briar patch before transitions into an appealingly rustic and structured zest fest, revealing heaps of licorice, roasted sage and forest floor accents that build toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030. Incredibly concentrated. Black cherry compote, raspberry liqueur, earth and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Hard to believe a Zin with this structure comes from such young vines. Just a screaming deal from a tremendous vintage.
Even though the Bambino Blocks are not a true field blend, Bucklin harvests and co-ferments the varieties together. Aged in neutral French oak barrels for 10 months. Blend: 70% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah & Carignane

Those who doubt the existence of terroir in the United States or who scoff at the whole notion of terroir owe it to themselves to try several of the Old Hill zins… They are particular wines that very much speak of Old Hill.”  Eric Asimov, NYT

The Old Hill Ranch is quite possibly the oldest vineyard in Sonoma, with a handful of vines approaching 160 years of age. Will Bucklin, whose stepfather acquired and rehabilitated the vineyard in 1984, is now the winemaker at his family’s estate, after stints at Lafite-Rothschild and Navarro, and at King Estate in Willamette Valley as head winemaker. The Bucklin family’s “Bambino,” a field blend of predominantly Zinfandel, is the younger vine expression of their ancient vineyard, from a small 10-acre plot replanted in 1998.

Founded in 1851, Old Hill Ranch is possibly the oldest vineyard in Sonoma. In 1981 it was purchased by Otto Teller, the stepfather of current winemaker Will Bucklin, and resurrected from a state of disrepair having become overrun with old cars and blackberry bushes. After several years of work the vineyard was back on track and in 1984 they began selling the grapes to Ravenswood for their acclaimed Old Hill Zinfandel. In 1998 the four Bucklin siblings decided to start their own winery so, after having interned at Lafite-Rothschild, worked at Hardy and Sons in Australia, Navarro winery in Mendocino, and being the winemaker at King Estate winery in Oregon, Will Bucklin returned to take over tending the vineyard and winemaking responsibilities at Old Hill Ranch.

The 24 acre Old Hill vineyard is a classic California field blend composed mostly of Zinfandel, about 77%, and the remaining third being a mix of Grenache, Alicante Bouchet, and a least a dozen other varieties (Tannat, Trousseau, Colombard, Lenoir, etc…). The vineyard is both dry farmed and certified organic with yields that rarely exceed one and a quarter tons per acre.