Wine of the Week: 2019 Dry Creek Vineyard “Heritage Vines” Zinfandel

If you’re planning to grill up some meat (or, for that matter, vegetables) this weekend, here’s a great wine for the occasion. The Dry Creek Heritage Vines Zinfandel is made from grapes grown in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, a great spot for zin. The “heritage” moniker is a reference to the fact that pre-Prohibition vine cuttings were grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock in an attempt to create contemporary vines with “old vine” characteristics. The project started in the early 1980s, so some of the “new” vines are getting on in years.

I can’t really say whether the project worked as intended, but the wine, which costs $26, is delicious and reminds me of California zins from several decades ago. It’s fresh and peppery, with ripe berry fruit, a brambly note and medium tannins. The blend includes 19 percent petite sirah.