2023 Carol Shelton - Zinfandel Mendocino Wild Thing HALF BOTTLE (375ml)

Carol Shelton has been dedicated to Zinfandel since 1978, earning a reputation as one of California's foremost specialists in the variety. She and her husband and business partner, Mitch Mackenzie, seek out old, often organically farmed vineyards across Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Mendocino, building close relationships with growers to let each site's character shine through. Known for giving her wines playful, memorable names, Shelton labels those made with native, uninoculated yeast as Wild Thing, a nod to both the fermentation method and the gnarled old vines the fruit comes from.

This bottling draws primarily on Mendocino County fruit, supplemented with smaller portions from Sonoma and Contra Costa counties, and includes a blend of Carignan and Petite Sirah grown alongside the Zinfandel on certified organic, mountainside vineyard land. Fermentation relies entirely on wild yeast, taking several days to begin and continuing on the skins for over two weeks, with the must déléstaged multiple times to build texture and color. The wine then ages roughly ten months in a mix of American and French oak barrels, a fifth of them new.

The result is aromatic and generous, with black cherry, ripe plum, and raspberry mingling with cigar box and vanilla-oak spice. The palate is smooth, creamy, and round, finishing long with lush, jammy fruit. Its ripe, fruit-forward character pairs naturally with barbecued ribs, grilled sausages, or a hearty tomato-based pasta.