Pedroncelli Dry Creek Zinfandel Mother Clone
2015 Pedroncelli Dry Creek Valley Mother Clone Zinfandel – Costco $12.49
The Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel is a very popular Zinfandel. In a sense, a cult Zin because of the price-to-quality ratio, and the fact that its ardent fans buy this wine by the case, vintage after vintage. The term”Mother Clone” also sparks an interest. What is the “Mother Clone?” The Mother Clone Zinfandel vines originate from 1904 Zinfandel plantings on the ranch. John Pedroncelli purchased the property in 1927. In 1980, the Pedroncellis took cuttings from the 1904 vineyard and planted them on the estate property, thus the “Mother Clone Zinfandel” vineyard. The vines are head pruned and hand harvested. See the photo and watch the video below.
The Mother Clone Vineyard in front of the Pedroncelli tasting room and along the hillsides.
Details – Mother Clone Zinfandel
I was taken aback to find this wine at the Foster City Costco. I had never before seen a Pedroncelli wine at Costco. Weimax Wines in Burlingame always has a nice supply of the Mother Clone, plus the Pedroncelli Friends Red and Friends White. We like purchasing this Zinfandel at the Pedroncelli winery. We enjoy the lovely setting on Canyon Road near Highway 101 in Geyserville. The winery has a Bocce court and picnic tables. It is a down-to-earth winery with no frills, just good wines at reasonable prices and friendly people in the tasting room. Pedroncelli is celebrating its 90th year of operation.
Open the Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel and let it breathe for one hour. That will follow with a delicious nose, with delicate and inviting aromas. The Zin is a nicely-balanced wine with spice and interesting dark fruit flavors that fill the palate. The alcohol is 14.9%, but the wine drinks much softer than this percentage of alcohol. Zins with this range of alcohol often have big jammy or raisin berry flavors. This one does not; it is a lovely food-friendly wine. The wine will deliver for a variety of foods: pizza, pasta, chicken, and grilled meats will love the Mother Clone Zinfandel.
The Pedroncelli spec sheet tells us that the wine was aged for 12 months in American oak, 30% new oak. The Zinfandel is blended with 12% Petite Sirah, which gives the wine a darker color and a little more “oomph.” The Wine Enthusiast gives the 2015 Mother Clone a rousing 93 Points. I am liking it at 89+ points. What a terrific value at $12.49.
Video – Pedroncelli’s Head-Pruned Mother Clone Zinfandel
Costco also has another Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, the Bella Vineyards Dry Creek 2013. It is also very good but it is priced at $18.99. The Pedroncelli is a better choice.
Spotted at Mollie Stone’s in Burlingame
Two excellent tasting stainless steel Chardonnay wines.
10% less if you buy six, mix or match
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