blackberry and blueberry in the nose and mouth. excellent balance with fruit and acid and tannin. nice finish - given the alcohol level not hot at all drinking very well right now and likely has 2-3 years
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Dinner with Johnny and Chris (Whisk (Chicago, IL)): Nice sweetness to this wine. With some nice air this actually didn't come across like the 16.9% alcohol the label read. Deep dark rich blackberries and spice. Licorice, coal and peppercorns. Lovely masculine textbook style of Zinfandel but well harnessed with some surprisingly vibrant acidity on the finish. Didn't come across as hot, just chewy and quite voluptuous.
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Second bottle in a couple months with a generally consistent score (91-92). This wine needs at least 5 hours of air to show its depth due to the sheer scale of the wine (fruit and alcohol). 8-10 would be my recommendation. Not my favorite of the Martinelli zins, yet this is a rewarding bottle with a large fruit bouquet and - provided it gets air - a certain grace. There are subtle spice notes for me, but this game is all about the broad fruit profile with medium intensity and a fairly long finish. Not jammy (Welch's), unlike the Rombauer tasted the same day. This doesn't play in the league of Turley, but it's a cut above some Ridge bottlings. Also, I didn't think that the alcohol was overwhelming after it was decanted. However, this is *not* a wine that should be drunk on a pop and pour basis. It would be overwhelming and not entirely harmonious, although frankly the nasty Rombauer zin (15.99%) tasted at the same time was more alcoholic in a side by side tasting. I've also had the 2005 Brogan zin with a similar alcohol level (about 17%) and I thought the same thing was true of it. Just don't pop and pour a big zinfandel.
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Dark red cherries and leather, very ripe, but the immense fruit carries the 16.9% alcohol. The problem with this wine is what will happen as it ages, I think it should be enjoyed for the present.
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consistent with notes of 4/22/2013 Spiced plum nose, some amount of heat...plenty of smooth dark fruit, chocolate, sweet asian spice, pepper finish...went well with Salt Lick BBQ, and Uncle Jim asked for more.
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spiced plum nose, some amount of heat...plenty of smooth dark fruit, chocolate, sweet asian spice, pepper finish...went well with Salt Lick BBQ, and Uncle Jim asked for more.
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Any way you slice it, this is an amazing Zin. This is a younger vineyard next to Jack Ass Vineyard I believe. The fruit is absolutely pure. Tons of raspberry, plum, boysenberry and red cherry. The fruit reminds of the perfect summer ripeness with its sweet, gentle and intense nature. After the fruit there is a lovely dose of pepper. The wine is very concentrated, but the texture is more delicate than one would expect with this type of concentration. Just a lovely, lovely expression of Zin.
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Very complex nose of herbs and fruit; on the palate this had forward dark fruit and bright acidity. The heat was not off-putting...maybe wait a bit if this is a concern. In all, really liked this wine; should be good for a few more years but don't wait too long to catch this fruit.
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12/19/2022 - KWBahamas Likes this wine: 93 Points
12 years after bottling, this wine is still drinking beautifully. Inky with intense raspberry and cherry flavors and some smokiness. Wish we had more.
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8/16/2020 - senesd Likes this wine: 91 Points
blackberry and blueberry in the nose and mouth. excellent balance with fruit and acid and tannin. nice finish - given the alcohol level not hot at all drinking very well right now and likely has 2-3 years
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2/5/2020 - rgkresek wrote: 93 Points
Sill great fruit. Wis I had some left.
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10/7/2018 - Thief Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich jammy fig, plumb, and dates on the nose with a layered texture on the palate and nice balance. A real treat.
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7/7/2018 - JSolo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Seems to have faded.
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5/28/2018 - JSolo Likes this wine: 93 Points
High alcohol level was not noticeable.
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10/24/2017 - JSolo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good, bordering on outstanding.
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10/15/2017 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderful
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9/24/2017 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Dark ruby black.
Absolutely in a sweet spot right now.
Big juicy zin that's not subtle, especially at 16.9%!
But that aside this is juicy sweet with surprisingly good balance and very drinkable. Quite nice right now
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2/10/2017 - metcellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious grape juice!
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12/31/2016 - samsneed Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice zin plum, cedar and some heat on the finsh. Enjoy over several hours 16.9 abv provides a nice ride!
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5/22/2016 - samsneed wrote: 93 Points
Really good zin! Plum and cedar, very powerful! Be careful the 16.9 abv can sneak up on you!
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3/10/2016 - gwkozar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice wine, simple, short finish, alcohol, not complex. Expected much more. Perhaps a dead phase.
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2/1/2015 - shotrock1999 Likes this wine:
2015 Milwaukee Men's Bonspiel
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12/23/2014 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
A bit too much alcohol showing.
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11/27/2014 - bemeyer wrote: 90 Points
nice fruit with a bit of the alcohol coming through. Drink next bottle in 10 months
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10/6/2014 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with Johnny and Chris (Whisk (Chicago, IL)): Nice sweetness to this wine. With some nice air this actually didn't come across like the 16.9% alcohol the label read. Deep dark rich blackberries and spice. Licorice, coal and peppercorns.
Lovely masculine textbook style of Zinfandel but well harnessed with some surprisingly vibrant acidity on the finish. Didn't come across as hot, just chewy and quite voluptuous.
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4/6/2014 - ebert Likes this wine: 90 Points
good zin with a good balance but not very complex.
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3/30/2014 - edwilley3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second bottle in a couple months with a generally consistent score (91-92). This wine needs at least 5 hours of air to show its depth due to the sheer scale of the wine (fruit and alcohol). 8-10 would be my recommendation. Not my favorite of the Martinelli zins, yet this is a rewarding bottle with a large fruit bouquet and - provided it gets air - a certain grace. There are subtle spice notes for me, but this game is all about the broad fruit profile with medium intensity and a fairly long finish. Not jammy (Welch's), unlike the Rombauer tasted the same day. This doesn't play in the league of Turley, but it's a cut above some Ridge bottlings. Also, I didn't think that the alcohol was overwhelming after it was decanted. However, this is *not* a wine that should be drunk on a pop and pour basis. It would be overwhelming and not entirely harmonious, although frankly the nasty Rombauer zin (15.99%) tasted at the same time was more alcoholic in a side by side tasting. I've also had the 2005 Brogan zin with a similar alcohol level (about 17%) and I thought the same thing was true of it. Just don't pop and pour a big zinfandel.
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3/5/2014 - twoamps Likes this wine: 90 Points
black cherry, a hint of old oak, and a fair amount of peppery spice. Tons of fruit. Hard to hide the alcohol, though. Don't wait too long to drink.
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1/6/2014 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red cherries and leather, very ripe, but the immense fruit carries the 16.9% alcohol. The problem with this wine is what will happen as it ages, I think it should be enjoyed for the present.
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10/20/2013 - Tom Warden wrote: 89 Points
This is dense , rich and complex as advertised. Unfortunately the alcohol (16.5%) got in the way of me enjoying it more. A bit too much heat for me.
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8/10/2013 - Yannisf wrote: 93 Points
This is a great wine, unique nose and palette
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7/17/2013 - Chriskrueger wrote: 92 Points
Almost like a pinot
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6/18/2013 - peterk wrote: 89 Points
Dark fruit, spicy. A bit one dimensional. Some heat. Nevertheless very good with spaghetti bolognese.
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4/28/2013 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red cherries, leather are balanced in a full-bodied, intense wine.
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4/22/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
consistent with notes of 4/22/2013 Spiced plum nose, some amount of heat...plenty of smooth dark fruit, chocolate, sweet asian spice, pepper finish...went well with Salt Lick BBQ, and Uncle Jim asked for more.
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4/22/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
spiced plum nose, some amount of heat...plenty of smooth dark fruit, chocolate, sweet asian spice, pepper finish...went well with Salt Lick BBQ, and Uncle Jim asked for more.
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3/19/2013 - dundeehills Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Sonoma County zin, great balance of fruit and spice.
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12/15/2012 - Jay A Likes this wine: 93 Points
Any way you slice it, this is an amazing Zin. This is a younger vineyard next to Jack Ass Vineyard I believe. The fruit is absolutely pure. Tons of raspberry, plum, boysenberry and red cherry. The fruit reminds of the perfect summer ripeness with its sweet, gentle and intense nature. After the fruit there is a lovely dose of pepper. The wine is very concentrated, but the texture is more delicate than one would expect with this type of concentration. Just a lovely, lovely expression of Zin.
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11/8/2012 - Deb293 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very complex nose of herbs and fruit; on the palate this had forward dark fruit and bright acidity. The heat was not off-putting...maybe wait a bit if this is a concern. In all, really liked this wine; should be good for a few more years but don't wait too long to catch this fruit.
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5/9/2012 - Scharin Likes this wine: 89 Points
From recollection: Very deep color, strawberry jam on the nose & palate. A bit of alcohol heat, but not too much.
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