2022 Carol Shelton - Zinfandel Mendocino Wild Thing (750ml)
2022 Carol Shelton Zinfandel Mendocino Wild Thing (750ml)
Carol Shelton’s winemaking journey began in 1978, when opportunities for women in the cellar were few. After years of hands-on experience and earning a UC Davis enology background, she launched her own label in 2000, building a reputation for expressive, old-vine California wines with an independent spirit. Wild Thing embodies that spirit, taking its name from the century-old Zinfandel vines it comes from and the wild, native yeast fermentation used in the cellar.
The fruit for Wild Thing is grown on benchland and mountain slope vineyards in Mendocino County, where vines have been in the ground for more than 65 years. The wine is built primarily from old-vine Zinfandel, with small portions of Carignane and Petite Sirah added to deepen texture and structure.
Vineyard & Winemaking
Harvested from vines well over six decades old on Mendocino benchlands and hillside slopes, Wild Thing leverages limited additions of Carignane and Petite Sirah to provide additional depth, density, and backbone. Fermentation proceeds with wild, native yeast, capturing the terroir and the spontaneous character of this historic site.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: black cherry, ripe plum, and raspberry, layered with graphite, cigar box, and warm vanilla baking spice.
- Palate: plush and creamy, with jammy dark fruit carrying through a long, satisfying finish.
Food Pairings
- grilled steak fajitas
- smoky barbecue chicken
- wedge of aged asiago