Hartford Highwire Zinfandel 2018

Hartford Highwire Zinfandel 2018 is a striking example of old-vine California Zin, drawn from the historic Highwire Vineyard where more than 100-year-old vines produce remarkably concentrated fruit. Crafted with a light touch and bottled without fining or filtration, it captures both power and finesse in a style that has made Hartford one of Sonoma’s standout names.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, it shows the deep, dark color you would expect from old-vine Zinfandel. The nose is layered and expressive, with dark cherry, blueberry compote, leather, spice, tobacco, cedar, and a cool lift of menthol. On the palate, ripe blueberry and cherry lead the way, followed by tea, licorice, rose petals, and black pepper. Despite its nearly 16% alcohol, the wine feels balanced and polished, finishing long, savory, and memorable. It has the structure and concentration to develop further over the next several years.

Production
Highwire Vineyard is planted to vines over a century old, trained on wire and pruned more tightly than usual to increase sun exposure and help the fruit ripen fully. The result is unusually concentrated Zinfandel from a historic California site with real pedigree. The wine was aged for 9 months in French oak, with half the barrels new, and bottled without fining or filtration to preserve texture and character.

Food & Serving
This is an ideal match for richly flavored dishes such as grilled lamb, barbecue ribs, smoked brisket, short ribs, or pepper-crusted steak. It also works beautifully with hard cheeses and hearty Mediterranean dishes. Serve at around 16-18°C, and consider decanting for 30-60 minutes to let the aromatics open and the structure soften.

Producer
Hartford Family Winery has built a strong reputation in California for site-driven wines with precision, depth, and a clear sense of origin. Based in Sonoma, the producer is especially respected for its old-vine Zinfandel and Pinot Noir, and Jeff Stewart’s minimally interventionist winemaking approach has helped establish Hartford as a benchmark name in the region.

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