Tag Archives: zinfandel

Saxon Brown Fighting Brothers Zinfandel 2015, Sonoma Valley, California

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

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Medium ruby colored- this 14.7% ABV Zin has got thick, globby legs in the glass.  The nose has pronounced aromas of stewed blackberry, prunes, blueberry compote, walnuts, vanilla, cedar and spice box.  I like the tertiary notes of this developing wine. The palate is dry and fully bodied with well integrated tannins and juicy acidity.  The flavors are delicious and pronounced as I swirl the nectar around my mouth, sucking air in to boost the flavors.  The finish has a touch of heat on it but still shows lovely fruit flavors for a medium length finish.  The alcohol is a bit of an unbalanced distraction that will cost a point or two.  This $40 wine gets 91 points and 4 stars from me.  It is really good all by itself but may pair well with grilled Picanha steaks or roasted duck with a cherry reduction.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Marietta Cellars Angeli Cuvee 2016, Alexander Valley, California

01 Friday Apr 2022

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Deep garnet colored, this Zinfandel is showing a touch of age.  Besides a whiff of alcohol right off the bat- the nose has aromas of stewed blueberry, vanilla, black plum, clove and purple licorice.  The palate is dry and tannic with juicy acidity and a full body.  The flavors are quite complex- there’s a touch of stewed/cooked fruit showing the wine’s age, plus some oak influence as well as primal fruit still hanging in there.  The finish is grippy and the acid really hits the tongue and jaw on the medium length finish.  This is not the usual overly extracted and jammy Zin, it has some good fruit and structure and needs a spicy meat dish like middle eastern spiced lamb kofta.  90 points for this $35 wine makes it a 4 star effort.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

 

Comartin Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel 2018, Lodi, California

07 Tuesday Sep 2021

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Smoked beef brisket is a tough pairing- the flavors are so rich and smoky that the wine needs to have spice, body and high levels of alcohol.  A Zinfandel seems as close as possible to the perfect match.  This one is semi opaque with thick legs showing off its 14.8% ABV.  The nose is very aromatic- rich red fruits, spice, black and white pepper alongside toasty oak.  The palate is very full bodied with great balance between the rich fruit, medium tannins and medium acidity.  Ripe raspberry, redcurrant jam, white pepper and blackberry flavors are all present.  It’s not a blockbuster in style but its rich fruit is very enticing.  I dig this wine and for $30 it’s a good drop that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Cooper and Thief Red Blend 2018, California

29 Sunday Aug 2021

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I could not pass this wine up, aged 3 months in Bourbon Whiskey Barrels… That had my name all over it, but I’m not excited about the 16% ABV, seems over the top.  Let’s try some.

It is bright purple and opaque AF.  I can smell it a mile away, the waft is pretty serious.  Once I get stuck in- the nose is very rich with blackberry, blackcurrants, black plum, alcohol, eucalyptus, caramel, vanilla, minty greeness and some black espresso.  Did I mention alcohol?  I have to blow that stuff out of the glass or else I will get drunk sniffing.

The palate has a sweetness to it right off the bat, but when I did my soon-to-be trademarked dryness test, I confirmed it is a dry wine.  That must be from Bourbon, which is known to have caramel sweetness rather than residual sugar.  I get gobs of rich black fruits that I picked out on the nose, plus really integrated, lithe tannins and medium acidity.  This fruit bomb is very smooth and enticing, buyer beware of the formidable punch which is deftly hidden.  If you like them big, bold and jammy then this one is right up your alley.  I really am enjoying this 91 point blend of 38% Merlot, 37% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Other Red Blenders.  It’s not a daily drinker for sure, especially at $30 but it gets 5 stars from me and worth a try if you see it.  Drink till 2026 with some Filets.  Salut….

Girard Old Vine Zinfandel 2017, Napa Valley, California

13 Tuesday Jul 2021

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My assignment this week for tasting wines included this Old Vine Zin. The format and lexicon of descriptors is very limiting so I must add that this was not my favorite wine. It had a very astringent mid palate and the overpowering whiff on the nose was annoying. It can be had for $25 and gets 87 points from me. I can’t figure out where I got it from though. 3 stars, trending to 2. Drink now till 2025 with some burgers or ribs. Salut….

Girard Old Vine Zinfandel 2017, Napa Valley, CA 15.0% ABV

  • Appearance- Medium ruby with thin legs.
  • Nose- medium (+) intensity with aromas of blackcurrant, black plum, blackberry, licorice, white pepper.  Youthful.
  • Palate- Dry, high acidity, medium (+) tannin, high alcohol, medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity with flavors of black plum, blackberry, jamminess, white pepper with a medium (+) finish.
  • Conclusion- good quality wine that can drink now, but has potential for aging or further aging.

Why do I keep drinking such alcoholic wines?  I had to blow into the glass for a few minutes to get the alcohol to dissipate.  Not as jammy and peppery as most Old Vine Zins I have tasted but still yummy.  

Ridge Vineyards Pagani Ranch Zinfandel 2018, Sonoma Valley, USA

29 Saturday May 2021

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This winery makes some world class wines and this Zinfandel, with a blend of 9% Alicante Bouschet and 7% Petite Sirah, is simply delicious. Our virtual tasting group last had a Zin in August 2020- it was time. This wine is dark purple and opaque. The nose caught us all off-guard, it was an explosion of racy, jammy blackberry, white and black pepper, mulling spice (Nutmeg?), rose and a touch of funk. The palate was delicious but not as potent. The blackberry jam, pepper and spice were all present alongside ripe, smooth tannins and juicy acidity. The finish was a decent length. I scored this wine 91 points and initially thought it was my WOTN. For $33 this highly rated (95 points by the pros) is a steal worthy of 5 stars. The quality is very high and it will cellar nicely till 2028. It sports a hefty 14.9% ABV, which is hidden nicely, giving the wine a nice body and good mouthfeel. Pair it with hearty stews, grilled lamb chops or Beef Wellington. Salut….

Sharon Weeks Cattoo Zinfandel 2019, Paso Robles, California

25 Tuesday May 2021

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This Paso Zin is a lovely shade of purple but only 50% opaque. The legs give a hint of what to expect, 14.8% ABV is pretty hefty kick, beware. On the nose I get wafts of the alcohol but it subsides and the flavors of dark plum, white pepper, cloves and creamy blackberry ganache. On the palate it is rich and powerful. The fruit profile is more toward the blackberry side but I do get the peppery notes I would expect from this varietal. There is a slightly astringent hit from black tea notes as well as some decent acidity. The tannins kick in very gently on the back end. A lovely, full mouthfeel for this wine that carries it to a medium length finish. The dark fruit flavors ever present. I sense a touch of oak overall, but it is not over done. The heat is the only concern as this wine drinks very easily, one can get caught up in the moment if one is not careful!. A decent drop that will go well with a lean cut of beef on the grill. 89 points from me and at $14, it’s a 4 star effort worthy of a try! Salut….

Artezin Old Vine Zinfandel 2017, Mendocino, California

19 Tuesday Jan 2021

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I tasted this wine many moons ago but failed to write notes. When I saw it in the shop it reminded me of friends in California who introduced me to this winery. The wine itself is a pretty shade of purple but is nearly see-through. On the nose I get red berries, a touch of oak and pomegranate. The palate is spicy with a pepper note right off the bat. Dark red raspberries, black berries and sweet currants add to the mix. It is really interesting. The mid palate has a touch of dryness from lithe tannins, the acidity yet to kick in. On the finish this wine shouts out the varietal with lots of white and black pepper, raspberry and blackberry flavors with smoky oak intertwined. It’s not overly complex but really packs those singular fruit flavors. It will drink well till 2025 and handle char-grilled chicken, Filet or even pizza. It gets 88 points from me and for $18- 3 stars. Salut….

Evangelos Bagias Rippey Family Vineyard Zinfandel 2019, Lodi, California

23 Wednesday Dec 2020

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Very dark purple and nearly opaque in the glass. The nose on this Zin gives me sweet plums, white pepper, licorice and dried cherry. On the palate is has a warm intro bursting with purple fruit ganache, sweet black cherry and a modicum of very fine grained tannins. The mid palate continues the black/purple fruit theme but it’s here where I sense the 15.1 % alcohol. It’s not bothersome, just be careful! The tannins are really well integrated so that I get just a touch of dryness on the backend to go along with some steeped plum and charcoal notes. I really am enjoying this wine, it will pair nicely with the braised Lamb shanks in the oven. It gets 89 points from me and for $11 it’s one to stock up on for casual meals and Friday Happy hours. 5 stars, drink till 2024. Salut….

Quivira Vineyards Zinfandel 2016, Dry Creek Valley, California

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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Very dark purple and fully opaque.  Loads of pepper, purple plums and blackcurrant preserves on the nose.  On the palate I get a whack of iodine, ink and black fruit.  There’s a very definitive tannic streak but without the gum coating astringency.  Cranberry and tart cherry are noted on the mid palate.  The tannins are a touch green on the back end and they really start to grip on the long finish.  This wine scored big with the pros, I can see why. In my books the greeness detracts- 90 points and 4 stars for this $23 Zin. Drink till 2024. Salut….