Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Andrea Oberto Atlas Peak Benziger Beringer Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Cantina Terlano Chimney Rock Chronicle Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Emilio Lustau Fonseca Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Hess Collection Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel La Caudrina Luna Vineyards Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Pahlmeyer Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Six Sigma Winery St. James Steltzner Vineyards Trinchero Winery Trione V. Sattui Winery William Fevre Wilson Winery
Category Archives: Zinfandel
Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel 2007
Pedroncelli, Dry Creek Valley, Mother Clone, Zinfandel 2007 The nose features sweet jammy fruit, like a bit of raspberry and blackberry rolled into a crumble for dessert. In the mouth it is spicy and warm, a little viscous and focused … Continue reading
Sonoma County Zinfandel
Robert Rue, Russian River Valley, Wood Road, Reserve, Zinfandel 2007 Sweet and jammy fruit exudes in the nose with the spiciness of black pepper. In the mouth you’ll find a structured Zin, lightly tannic, with plenty of acidity and lastly … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Tagged Wilson
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Sonoma County Zinfandel 2007
Wilson Winery, Dry Creek Valley, Tori Vineyard, Estate, Zinfandel 2007 The nose expresses sweetness, from the oak to the jammy fruit, with a dusting of black pepper. This then continues on the palate, with some structure to frame the black … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
Tagged Rosenblum, Wilson
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California Zinfandel
Sobon Estate, Amador County, Old Vines, Zinfandel 2008 Here’s a light-bodied Zin that is quite fruity and ready to quaff. There’s a little sweetness working in the background (about 3 grams per litre) along with a light touch of eucalyptus … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Dry Creek Valley, Sierra Foothills, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Tagged Sobon Estate, Wilson Winery
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Beringer White Zinfandel 2009
Beringer, California, California Collection, White Zinfandel 2009 Watermelon and strawberries fly from the glass with a sense of candy and sweet flowers. The mouth displays sweetness and strawberry with balancing acidity – nice. 3 hours of skin contact provide the … Continue reading
Beringer White Zinfandel 2008
Beringer, California, California Collection, White Zinfandel 2008 You remember those hard candies, watermelon flavored? Well here you have them in a glass, sweet and tart at the same time – very nice. 3 hours of skin contact provide the color. … Continue reading
Carol Shelton Rendezvous Rose 2008
Carol Shelton, Mendocino County, Rendezvous Rose 2008 The nose is vibrantly fruity, evocative of fresh raspberries and herbs. In the mouth it is dry and fruity, with a little warmth. The RS adds some weight, filling our the wine and … Continue reading
Chronicle Zinfandels 2006
Proprietor Mike Hengehold was on hand at ZAP today in San Francisco to showcase his Zin portfolio. He is sourcing fruit from vines that were planted in the Russian River long before I was born. The fruit hangs well into … Continue reading
Bodega Celdran Vinto Tinto Reserva 2004
Bodega Celdran, Sonoma County, Vinto Tinto, Reserva 2004 In the nose you’ll find read fruits and cedar with a bit of the sweet tobacco of Bordeaux. In the mouth the texture is supple, the fruit is ripe and an Old … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Sonoma County, Spanish Blend, Zinfandel
Tagged Bodega Celdran
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Ottimino Zinfinity 2006
Ottimino, Sonoma County, Zinfinity, Zinfandel 2006 The nose features vanilla and caramel, with a bit of black fruit, cocoa and black pepper. In the mouth the fruit comes forward, a little jammy, in a light-bodied format, very supple and easy … Continue reading
The Great Wines of St. Helena
Appellation St. Helena hosted a tasting on Tuesday to show off the wines of the AVA. We discussed the recent vintages and tasted 48 wines, with a strong emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon. Below is a baker’s dozen, the stars of … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Zinfandel
Tagged Benessere, Crocker & Starr, DeSante, Ehlers Estate, Hall Wines, Midsummer Cellars, Raymond Vineyards, Robert Biale Vineyards, Salvestrin Winery, Spottswoode Estate, Trinchero Winery
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Howell Mountain Bear & Lion Zinfandel 2006
Howell Mountain Vineyards, Napa Valley, Bear & Lion, Old Vine, Zinfandel 2006 The fruit in the nose has a very fresh grape juice quality with a note of blackberry liqueur. In the mouth the wine is jammy, soft and light … Continue reading
Posted in California, Napa Valley, Zinfandel
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Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2009 sweet stars
Hart’s Desire, Russian River Valley, Ponzo Vineyard, Late Harvest, Zinfandel 2008 The nose features candied black fruit. In the mouth it is a blackberry jam, in a liquid form – with an acidic streak for balance – delicious. 7% RS … Continue reading
Clif The Climber Red 2006
Clif Family Winery, California, The Climber, Red Wine 2006 This wine features a boatload of juicy fruit with the berries of Zin and the currants of Cab. The light body and soft texture make it drinkable immediately, perfect to imbibe … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Syrah, Zinfandel
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Sonoma County Zinfandel
J. Keverson, Russian River Valley, Alton Lane Vineyard, Zinfandel 2007 The fruit is very bright in the nose and graced by a healthy dose of black pepper. In the mouth the fruit is framed by acidity. This is one of … Continue reading
California Zinfandel 2006
Terra d’Oro, Amador County, Deaver Vineyard, Zinfandel 2006 The nose features stewed fruits, raisins, caramel and brown spices. In the mouth the wine is warm, with sweet, pruny fruit. The vines were planted in 1881. P&B Plymouth 15.5% $30 at … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Paso Robles, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
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Saucelito Canyon Late Harvest Zin 2006
Saucelito Canyon, Arroyo Grande Valley, Late Harvest, Zinfandel 2006 This wine is evolving prematurely, showing the uptake of oxygen in the nose. In the mouth, the sweet berries are still delicious. RS is 11%. GP&B in Arroyo Grande 15.6% $25 … Continue reading
Bogle Phantom 2006
Bogle Vineyards, California, Phantom 2006 Dark fruits and a bit of berry jam mark the nose with a hint of toffee. In the mouth, the fruits are surrounded by tannins that are ripe, with just a little grip to let … Continue reading
Posted in California, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel
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7 Deadly Zins 2007
Michael & David, Lodi, 7 Deadly Zins, Old Vine Zinfandel 2007 This wine has been a consistent oak bomb on the soft and plush side. The current vintage is particularly on the mark, soft, light-bodied and very oaky – a … Continue reading
Posted in California, Lodi, Zinfandel
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Chateau Aux Arc Dragonfly Red
Chateau Aux Arc, American, Dragonfly Red nv The nose speaks of sweet oak while in the mouth this wine is smooth and light with a little warmth. Some of the fruit came from the estate’s Dragonfly Ranch, supplemented by imports … Continue reading
Posted in American, Arkansas, Merlot, Zinfandel
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Rosenblum Richard Sauret Zin 2006
Rosenblum Cellars, Paso Robles, Richard Sauret Vineyards, Zinfandel 2006 There’s jammy fruit in the nose with notes of charred oak and an early sense of evolution. In the mouth the wine is peppery with vanilla and sweet milk chocolate. V&B … Continue reading
Posted in California, Paso Robles, Zinfandel
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Easton Late Harvest Zinfandel 2006
Easton, Fiddletown, Rinaldi Vineyard, Late Harvest, Zinfandel 2006 In the nose you’ll find baked red and black fruits. In the mouth the fruit really comes alive. There’s a gripping astringency on the palate and a conservative amount of residual sugar, … Continue reading
Posted in California, Fiddletown, Late harvest red, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
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Edmeades Piffero 2005
Edmeades, Redwood Valley, Piffero Vineyard, Zinfandel 2005 The fruit has taken on a sweet character, seemingly combining fresh and dried cherries. The wine fills out the entire palate with flavor in a supple way – delicious. P&B in Geyserville 15.5% … Continue reading
Posted in California, Mendocino County, Redwood Valley, Zinfandel
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Carol Shelton Monga Zin 2006
Carol Shelton, Cucamonga Valley, Lopez Vineyard, Monga Zin, Old Vine, Zinfandel 2006 In the nose there is jammy fruit and earthy notes. In the mouth you’ll find a chewy Zin, with a touch of creaminess and the acidity to carry … Continue reading
Posted in California, Cucamonga Valley, Zinfandel
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Lake County Wine Studio
Lake County Wine Studio features the wines of the region on Main Street in the town of Upper Lake, just a stone’s throw from the end of Highway 29. We all know the congested bit of this highway where the … Continue reading
Posted in California, Lake County, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel
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Wilson Sawyer Zin 2006
Wilson Winery, Dry Creek Valley, Sawyer Vineyard, Zinfandel 2006 This wine just oozes with jammy berry pie and vanilla in the glass. In the mouth it is a supple and slightly warm expression of the same – yummy. You might … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
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Rosenblum Planchon Zin 2006
Rosenblum Cellars, Contra Costa County, Planchon Vineyard, Zinfandel 2006 The smell is of candy and warmth, warm compote waiting on the sideboard. In the mouth, this is a very supple Zin, with ripe tannins and a bit of liquer-like character. … Continue reading
Posted in California, Contra Costa County, Zinfandel
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Haywood Los Chamizal Zin 2006
Haywood, Sonoma Valley, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Estate, Zinfandel 2006 The nose puts together many facets of Zin. There’s pruniness, black pepper and a sense of Port. In the mouth, this is a structured Zin, supporting plenty of fruit and a … Continue reading
Posted in California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
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Annapolis Zinfandel 2005
Annapolis Winery, Sonoma Coast, Zinfandel 2005 This is a very jammy Zin. Proprietors are the Scalabrini family. P&B in Annapolis 16.6% $26 at the winery Annapolis Winery
Posted in California, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
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Dashe Late Harvest Zinfandel 2007
Dashe, Dry Creek Valley, Late Harvest Zinfandel 2007 Candied berries in a glass, leaping out to greet your nose! The mouth repeats this theme in a very luscious, super-fruity way – brilliant. The grapes measured 40 degrees brix at harvest … Continue reading
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