The 2012 Zinfandel Old Vine Sonoma Valley is composed of 40% Bedrock Vineyard Zinfandel and a kitchen sink blend of five other grapes, the most notable being Carignan, Alicante, Petite Sirah and two obscure grapes called Abouriou and Aubun. It sees about 15% new oak, achieved 14.6% alcohol, and, happily, 1,600 cases were produced. It offers notes of spice, bouquet garni, roasted meats and plenty of red as well as blackberry fruit. The wine displays a wild character, but it is a delicious, medium to full-bodied, very good value that should drink well for 4-6 years. Morgan Twain Peterson, the son of Ravenswood's Joel Peterson, has hit the wine scene with a bang, producing vibrant, personality-filled, delicious wines from extremely old vines and, in some cases, virtually unknown grapes, such as Aubun, Teredalgo, Trousseau Noir, Le Noir, Mission, Trousseau Gris, Grand Noir and Abouriou, as well as Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Carignan, Alicante Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo. Many of these sites are heritage terroirs from the ancient past which, until Peterson's arrival, were largely ignored or were co-mingled into some innocuous industrial blend. Bedrock's portfolio is filled with exciting wines. The 2012s reviewed herein will all be bottled and released by Fall, 2014. Tel. (707) 343-1478

Bright red cherries, tobacco, licorice, fennel and spices are layered together beautifully in the 2011 Zinfandel Old-Vine. A stunning value, the 2011 stands out for its exceptional balance and polish. This is a decidedly elegant, restrained Zinfandel that nevertheless has serious personality. Within the context of Zinfandel, the style is floral and high-toned throughout. Morgan Peterson crafts the Old-Vine from an assortment of sites in Sonoma, all planted between 1888 and 1935. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2017. Morgan Peterson continues to put out a bevy of superb, site-driven wines, many of them focused on the old-vine, heritage sites he and a small cadre of fellow producers have brought back from the brink of extinction. When I taste the Bedrock wines, I often get the impression they will age very well, despite their considerable near-term appeal. Tel. (707) 364-8763

The 2010 Zinfandel Old-Vine flows across the palate with sumptuous black cherries, plums, licorice, chocolate and tobacco. The 2010 impresses for its mid-palate generosity and soft, silky finish. Floral red fruits reappear on the close. This is yet another superb choice for budget-conscious readers. The blend is 84% Zinfandel, 12% Mourvedre, plus 4% assorted blending varieties. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. Morgan Twain-Peterson is one of the most impressive young winemakers I have ever met, and it’s not just because he grew up the son of a famous producer. Making wines at this level requires talent, passion, hard work and a great palate, none of which is easily inherited. Along with Mike Officer of Carlisle, Twain-Peterson is on a mission to rediscover what he calls California’s old-vine “heritage” vineyards. These historic sites planted by California’s early immigrants, often home to unknown field blends, remain some of the most fascinating vineyards in California. Officer and Twain-Peterson were tired of seeing these old sites gobbled up by industrial-scale wineries, so they decided to do something about it. Bravo. Vintage 2010 was not kind to Twain-Peterson. Five vineyards were totally scorched by the late summer heat spikes and the crop from those sites were lost. But back to the positive, and there is plenty of that here. This lineup includes several wines that deliver phenomenal quality for the money. Tel. (707) 364-8763; www.bedrockwineco.com