Assembly makes a handful of wine in the Lodi AVA of Northern California. Here’s a quick look at the company’s latest zinfandel release.

This is a tough wine, with a tobacco nose and echoes of beef jerky. The body is dense and chewy, with blackberries at the core alongside menthol, leather, and hickory smoke notes — decent fruit, but a bit muddied with distractions. The finish remains surprisingly tannic, somewhat walled off, and a little difficult to approach.

C+ / $17

2012 Assembly Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

$17

6

Rating

6.0/10

Related Stories:

Tasting Lodi Zinfandel, 2017 Releases – Michael David, Fields Family, Ironstone, and Harney Lane Review: 2012 Boneshaker Zinfandel Lodi Review: 2010 LangeTwins Zinfandel Lodi Tasting Report: 2011 Good Eats Zinfandel & Food Pairing