by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Lodi, Primitivo, Puglia, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
Gran Sasso, Puglia, Primitivo IGT 2005 Tasted in May ’08 this wine was blooming with brett and would repulse most consumers. A bottle tasted later in the summer proved to be a different animal. Oaky and earthy with new world fruit, an appropriate amount of acid...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | Fortified dessert, Port, Zinfandel
Jocelyn Lonen Napa Valley Zinfandel Port 2004 This wine combines sweet fruit, an essence of chocolate and spirit. One of the class affectionately described it as like a chocolate candy filled with liqueur, ‘alcohol in an envelope of something sweet’....
by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | California, Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Zinfandel
This flight features 5 Zinfandel from 2001 to 2005 sourced from Napa and Paso Robles. Eberle Paso Robles Zinfandel 2005 Like eating a sweet cherry pie, this wine combines rich fruit, glycerol and oak into a viscous delight. Even with the high number, the alcohol is...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 21, 2007 | California, Mendocino County, Primitivo, Zinfandel
This flight features two Mendo wines, one Zinfandel and the other Primitivo. Chiarito Mendocino Estate Bottled Zinfandel 2004 Quite structured with concentration of berries to keep up – a little warm. There’s 11% Petite Sirah in the final blend. Aging was...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 21, 2007 | California, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
The Russian River is known best around the world as the home of great New World Pinot Noir. But we can’t count out the Zin. There are old vineyards delivering concentrated flavors and wines that can be known for their elegance and acidity, descriptors that...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 21, 2007 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Wilson Winery Dry Creek Valley Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel 2005 This is definitely jammy with a healthy dose of black pepper. In the mouth the same jammy fruit and black pepper come through in a structured, tannic package. You might remember the big prizes that the...
