A Bunch of Zins ($20 to $40)

My tasting group got together last night to drink some zinfandel. The theme is Zins, available on our local shelves (northeast Ohio) priced at $20 to $40. All wines were served blind and consumed over the course of 2.5 hours. All were pop and poured.

• 2007 Séléné Sauvignon Blanc Hyde Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  This was a golden color, slightly deep. A bit of butterscotch on the nose but no fruit left. Full bodied, with a very pleasant oily texture - its best feature. No fruit on the palate and some heat. Blind, I had no idea other than an older wine. It is still drinkable but I suspect its best days were a few years ago. Interesting to taste this at this point, I wish I had tried it on release. Now, the fruit is gone and only a hint of oak remains. As I said though, it is still a pleasant wine with some minerals.

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• 2009 Ridge Lytton Springs 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  My first time trying this vintage. Purple/ruby in color. Tight on opening. Sandalwood, some black raspberry. On the palate, slightly bitter with plums. Medium tannins. I was surprised when this was revealed. I did think it improved after that, but I wonder if that was because I gave it the benefit of the label, or the air helped it. In any event, I would have hoped for a better showing. I know AG raved about this wine so maybe it does need time. Its solid, but also the Ohio price is around $38, which is crazy.

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• 2009 Orin Swift Saldo 91 Points

  USA, California

  This is a love it or hate it wine. Inky purple in color. The nos has black raspberries, bramble, cinnamon. Juicy texture. Lots of black raspberries. Seamless and easy to drink. 15.5% Alcohol but not much heat. This is a jammy, in your face Zinfandel. It was the groups WOTN, but a couple did not like it at all. I think this is a crowd pleaser. At $30 Ohio, not cheap, but fun.

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• 2008 Carol Shelton Wines Zinfandel Florence Rockpile 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile

  Ruby/purple in color. Tight at first. Then shows some spice on the nose. Also some blackberries. Medium bodied. Tart, raspberries on the palate. 14.8% Decent enough quaff.

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• 2009 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel Mayacamas Range 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Others like this more than I. Ruby in color. The nose is tight but with air shows some cranberries, rhubarb and raspberries. Tart and pruney on the palate. i wonder if this had been heat damaged as the red fruit profile seemed at odds with the heat and prune. Also some heat here. 14.9% It is was certainly a drinkable wine but for me, not what I look for in a wine retailing for around $40 Ohio.

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• 2010 Michael-David Vineyards Zinfandel Earthquake 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

  This was the group's WOTN, although not mine, this is a very nice Zin that represents good value ($20 Ohio). Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, sandalwood, bramble and mint. Very ripe sweet fruit. Not a lot of complexity but juicy, delicious wine. 16% Alc., it was the highest in the tasting. Is the sweet fruit from the alcohol, ripeness or RS?

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• 2008 Carol Shelton Wines Zinfandel Monga Zin® Lopez Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, California, South Coast, Cucamonga Valley

  Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose was about cough drops for me. Someone said moth balls, but I didn't get that. Lots of black raspberries although turns somewhat bitter on the finish. Pleasant, if a bit candied for my tastes.

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• 2004 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Vine Sonoma County 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  I liked this a lot more than the group which panned it. It was the oldest wine in the tasting. Purple/ruby in color. Black raspberries and boysenberries on the nose. Slightly sour, with black raspberries and firm tannins. Reminded somewhat of a sour style beer which I like. Certainly didn't seem over the hill to me. 14.5% Alc.

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• 2010 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  I threw this in for curiosity. Inky in color with some purple swirls. The nose has black raspberries, bramble, spice and sandalwood. Full bodied with a thick texture. Nice. Black raspberries. A few complained about heat on the finish, while it was present, it wasn't bothersome to me. Still very young, it unwound during the evening.

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• 2009 Cline Cellars Zinfandel Big Break 89 Points

  USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Contra Costa County

  Ruby/purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, clay, cranberries and spaice. There is a lot of heat here (15.5%) but I think serving it chilled might be an option. Good fruit - mostly black cherries. Solid wine.

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