2000 Cline Vineyards

2000 Cline “Oakley”
California Vin Gris
If your gonna drink pink, then you may want to think “Vin Gris”. A rose made in the fresh and dry style of the Rhone Valley’s famous pink wines. A nice strawberry brightness that is balanced with some dusty earth and a dryness that will work rather well with summer time appetizers. This is for the folks who want to finally drop the white Zin and step up to a more sophisticated style. Count me in for a couple bottles next to the pool this summer.


2000 Cline
California Syrah
Lovely stuff. I don’t know if that “L” word fits a Syrah’s personality, but I’m using it anyway. The juice is expansively warm on the palate and eventually really heats up your whole mouth. Deep ripe blackberry with a peppery spice. Dark, thick crimson red in color with some good “oomph” for its general appellation of “California”. Some basil and oregano hints are thrown in and it comes across very potent. Me likey this juice. 36,000 cases made so you can find it almost everywhere.

2000 Cline
California Zinfandel
Tangy, with bell pepper and black pepper zest, currant and raspberry flavors and a bold mouth smothering earthy rustic backbone. Mild tar and olive aromas that are followed a little with the same tastes, a bit of cedar comes across in the finish with cinnamon and yummy baked blackberry. Plenty good for an entry level Zinfandel, it is an over-achiever.

2000 Cline
Sonoma County Syrah
Good, juicy very dark purple cool climate Syrah. This is the inaugural release of this wine. The grapes come from the southern end of the Sonoma Coast Appellation where the Clines have their Lazy “C” Ranch, and they seem pretty fired up about the fruit coming out of this area. This Syrah has some nice black licorice, black olive and burnt cherry flavors mixing together and coming off very dense.

The earthy mushroom zest covers your tongue and brings in the thick cherry right behind it. It packs a good one-two punch. Another Cline wine spending a good 14 months in oak barrels and showing very well after its encounter with both French and American oak. The fruit dominates on the finish and the peppery spice can be found through out. We look forward to this Syrah in the years to come and this bottle wont mind laying in the cellar for a couple years if you can hold onto it for that long. 6,514 cases made.

2000 Cline
California
“Ancient Vines” Zinfandel
This is the wine to choose from this whole selection if you want to please a crowd and show them what a quintessential California Zinfandel is all about. Ripe, lively and overflowing with juicy dense blackberry flavors and marvelous spicy sweet aromas. To say it “oozes” would be an understatement. A little tar, and dust provide the balance to the fruit and a mouthful can truly last for a long time. Good and ready to drink now but can also sit down for a couple years. Get your six bottle half-case and open one every six months. You will enjoy. 14,630 cases made.

2000 Cline
Contra Costa County
“Ancient Vines” Mourvedre
Some nice black licorice flavors pour out of this wine with big full-bodied goodness that lingers on the palette. Compelling fruit flavors arise and fight for some space between the mineral notes and herbal dill and oregano flavors. The fruit comes across in a wild over-ripe raspberry soaked in brandy flavor. Very firm and it gets down to business right off the bat. Once you try this obscure grape on its own you may be hooked for life. 6,831 cases made.

2000 Cline
Contra Costa County
“Small Berry Vineyard” Mourvedre
Only small amounts of Mourvedre are grown in California, and Cline is one of the wineries keeping it alive. Firm, tannic and structured this wine is not for the timid. It is chewy and thick and can take a while to get used to. Small Berry vineyard consists of only 9-acres and has a very small yield per acre. While I’m chewing through the abundant tannins I get a nice peppery berry pie taste in my mouth followed up by some smooth serene chocolate. Small production leads to a total case volume of 1,311. It may be hard to find but you will enjoy the intensity and interesting fruit. Can lay down in the cellar for 5 years.

2000 Cline
Contra Costa County
“Live Oak Vineyard” Zinfandel
This Zin is following the same lines and framework as the “Ancient Vines”, but with a bit more intensity in the middle and a touch more developed fruit and a bit softer finish. Now that I said that, on further review it has quite a bit more going on with it. It has some gamey flavors that blend with cognac soaked currants rolled in fresh ground peppercorns and then sauteed, wow that is quite a mouth full. It is chunky and tough, and the 15.5% alcohol can get you rolling and shows some burnt red licorice and slight traces of green bell peppers. This is an exceptional bottle. This would make a great gift for the wine snob in your life who may be used to $50-$60 bottles.

A glass or two of this and they won’t believe it is a $25 bottle. The abundant heady aromas are nice but don’t lead onto what power is waiting in the glass. It grabs you by the collar and slams you to the floor, but does start to soften up on the finish and ends up leaving your mouth rather politely. Along with the fare I mentioned above, this wine will be tremendous with a blue cheese and herb crusted Rack of Lamb, peppercorn rubbed Filet Mignon or grilled Rib Eye. 3,516 cases made.

2000 Cline
Sonoma County
“Los Carneros Vineyard” Syrah
This Syrah has that sweeter tasting cherry that is a joy to drink. Full bodied mouthfeel and great depth of flavor gives the average drinker a lot to think about. I know I’m sitting here with nothing on my mind but this Syrah. The pure dark cherries blend with a lite forest floor moss and herbal nuances that show a nice complexity here. It starts off brawny and then really focuses on the fruit characteristics that also encompass some plump and juicy dark berry flavors, a bit thicker than the cherry, and a bit more tart. Does that make sense? If not go find a bottle and try for yourself. Pure pleasure. 4,291 cases made.

2000 Cline
Contra Costa County
“Big Break Vineyard” Zinfandel
The “Big Break” has been a distinctive and popular Zinfandel for years. I have found it to be a little more “steely” than the others. A bit of a metallic hint thrown into the tart raspberry and bittersweet chocolate gives this Zin a tasting profile all its own. The 14 months spent in oak contributes some mellow sweetness and the overall package shows a thick and age-worthy Zinfandel with some soft edges but upfront tannins to allow about 5 years of cellaring. 2,798 cases made.

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