Had with family over a nice dinner for my brother in laws 80th bday. A very large wine which was not appropriate to the dinner or the other 2 wines we had. Rich and alcholic with a spicy kick. Probably capable of some age but this was not the right wine to judge tonight given these other two.
Had next to a Renato Ratti 2006 Barolo and a Villabella Amarone 1998.
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Zinfandels (Red not white, per Liz) (Liz's): A small pour at a tasting. Not as bad as the regular Prisoner. Rather boozy, slightly candied and alcoholic. A big pepper finish.
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Drank this and a 2013 vintage...Much softer and more subtle than the 2013 vintage. Tannins and fruit have slightly faded...still well done and very drinkable, but I preferred the 2013.
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Blackberry, raspberry, vanilla, smoke and spice on the nose. A long finish with gentle tannins. Notes of blackberry raspberry, smoke, coffee and chocolate. Served with bbq ribs. This is berry pie delicious. Very well balanced and integrated oak. Very long finish. Great Zinfandel.
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Popped and poured. Smoke, spice and some surprising barnyard on the nose although this blew off fairly quickly. Nice Zin profile with notes of boysenberry, cherry, spice and coffee. Quite smooth with nice acidity. More integrated at this age than some previous vintages. Medium length finish with smooth tannins. Held up well on Day 2. This is the best Saldo I have tasted to date and should improve from here.
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Explosive out of the bottle! Bursting with red ripe fruit. The very high abv is not noticeable, as the winemaker has done a fantastic job of creating this bottle. Should be enjoyed soon.
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Drank a glass of this at the Village Tavern, nice dark berries in the bouquet and palate, a little zing from the spice, lightly tannic as well. No real heat to this and definitely full bodied with a pleasant oakiness to it, had a cab like feel to it along with its zin characteristics, very enjoyable, will get a bottle for the homefront.
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I liked this a lot, one of the better wines I've had in the $20-$30 range in some time. I picked up a lot of berry (cherry/raspberry) and spice on the smell, and the taste as well. A hint of spice on the taste and classic Zin peppery, but not overdone at all. Deep purple color and stood up well both to food and on its own. Smooth and medium finish. Would definitely pick up some more.
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Having had a magnum of this previously, we were happy to have it again. Deep, rich, ruby color followed by a bold yet elegant nose. We quite like the depth of this wine, despite the naysayers. As for price point, $24 is more than fair.
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Claret color in the glass, a strong hint of alcohol with the initial pour, which goes away nicely with a swirl, that leave big legs on the glass. Huge Fruit Forward attack with aromas of black cherries and cardamon, chocolate, and roasted coffee. Smooth and subtle supple tannins and clean finish; medium in length. Very Enjoyable but I believe there are better values for the price
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Not quite as good as 2010 or 2009, but you will still be hard pressed to fine a better match when you are having BBQ pork ribs or a pork shoulder. The fruit in the front & tannins on the finish are a prefect match with pork a spicy BBQ sauce.
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The first I had with this wine is I tasted it against Bedrock Old Vine, trying to get a dollar for dollar comparison of Zinfandel, Bedrock blew it away. But by itself it is fine, black, blue, and red fruits along with pepper, spices, maybe a little something in the finish I couldn't put my finger on lowered my opinion.
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Wow, this bottle was like night and day compared to the last one only a few weeks ago. Both came from Costco. This was thin. Fruit was subdued. Might go back for another. Best 2 out of 3?
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The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Dust. It tastes like Blackberry, and Black currant (cassis). The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium. A nice Zin... typical fruit forward with a pleasant finish. Good for the price
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I let this breath for an hour after consuming it. It wasn't bad it just wasn't as good as other 2011 vintages that I've had from the same producer at the same price point. I would pick up a bottle of abstract over this if I had the option. Jam and oak are the main two things I get from tasting this wine with the latter being more dominant. The tannins weren't as bad as a cheap red on the plus side but I've had six-dollar bottles (from other producers i.e. gypsy's the chariot) that I would say were similar or even a better value than this wine.
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I seem to like this wine much more than most others. I like the big fruit. I didn't find the oak to be imposing. My only hesitation with this wine is the price. At $24, I think that there are a number of competitors in the high teens low twenties.
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12/12/2016 - Terramare Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very nice Zin that was quite smooth and nice fruit. The end-date for this is significantly off, included a 2018 date.
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7/17/2016 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
38th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2011s (R&D's): Lush and brambly dark fruit with loads of peppery spice. Good peppery fruit on the finish.
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4/24/2016 - tomoem Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Had with family over a nice dinner for my brother in laws 80th bday. A very large wine which was not appropriate to the dinner or the other 2 wines we had. Rich and alcholic with a spicy kick. Probably capable of some age but this was not the right wine to judge tonight given these other two.
Had next to a Renato Ratti 2006 Barolo and a Villabella Amarone 1998.
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11/22/2015 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
Zinfandels (Red not white, per Liz) (Liz's): A small pour at a tasting. Not as bad as the regular Prisoner. Rather boozy, slightly candied and alcoholic. A big pepper finish.
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11/7/2015 - Quarked wrote: 90 Points
This shows very clear zin character, but was a little hot on the first night. On the second night this showed much softer, a bit of caramel.
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5/31/2015 - IWillyWikeWine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank this and a 2013 vintage...Much softer and more subtle than the 2013 vintage. Tannins and fruit have slightly faded...still well done and very drinkable, but I preferred the 2013.
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3/31/2015 - dchisholm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blackberry, raspberry, vanilla, smoke and spice on the nose. A long finish with gentle tannins. Notes of blackberry raspberry, smoke, coffee and chocolate. Served with bbq ribs. This is berry pie delicious. Very well balanced and integrated oak. Very long finish. Great Zinfandel.
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1/2/2015 - Jgallup wrote: 90 Points
Black pepper, dark fruit, smoke. Enjoyed with BBQ chicken. Very nice mid-week wine.
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8/24/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Relatively bold and raw. Fruit is interesting. Not a bad bottle to serve as the 3rd or 4th of the night.
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8/13/2014 - Yamadori Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Smoke, spice and some surprising barnyard on the nose although this blew off fairly quickly. Nice Zin profile with notes of boysenberry, cherry, spice and coffee. Quite smooth with nice acidity. More integrated at this age than some previous vintages. Medium length finish with smooth tannins. Held up well on Day 2. This is the best Saldo I have tasted to date and should improve from here.
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6/1/2014 - Cblakejordan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Explosive out of the bottle! Bursting with red ripe fruit. The very high abv is not noticeable, as the winemaker has done a fantastic job of creating this bottle. Should be enjoyed soon.
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5/25/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Fourth bottle of the night. Big fruit, didn't get lost.
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4/29/2014 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank a glass of this at the Village Tavern, nice dark berries in the bouquet and palate, a little zing from the spice, lightly tannic as well. No real heat to this and definitely full bodied with a pleasant oakiness to it, had a cab like feel to it along with its zin characteristics, very enjoyable, will get a bottle for the homefront.
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3/20/2014 - nubbin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dang Euzin!
Appearance: deep garnet with pale rim.
Nose: Clean, pronounced berry fruits, candy.
Palate: Dry, medium-low acidity, medium-low tannin, moderate palate alcohol (balanced with wine), full-bodied, pronounced intensity blackberry, bluberry, baked spice, light oak, touch of candy.
Outstanding Zin, ready to drink.
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2/11/2014 - gbpecknold wrote: 87 Points
Great bottle for the price
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1/4/2014 - Jeffrey Scott wrote: 90 Points
Perhaps one of the best under $25 Zin based wines from Cali.
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12/31/2013 - moega Likes this wine: 91 Points
I liked this a lot, one of the better wines I've had in the $20-$30 range in some time. I picked up a lot of berry (cherry/raspberry) and spice on the smell, and the taste as well. A hint of spice on the taste and classic Zin peppery, but not overdone at all. Deep purple color and stood up well both to food and on its own. Smooth and medium finish. Would definitely pick up some more.
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12/23/2013 - gbpecknold wrote: 88 Points
Having had a magnum of this previously, we were happy to have it again. Deep, rich, ruby color followed by a bold yet elegant nose. We quite like the depth of this wine, despite the naysayers. As for price point, $24 is more than fair.
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12/16/2013 - KendraPM wrote: 91 Points
Drank with brad and Bethany and Aaron
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12/8/2013 - haBu Likes this wine: 90 Points
Claret color in the glass, a strong hint of alcohol with the initial pour, which goes away nicely with a swirl, that leave big legs on the glass. Huge Fruit Forward attack with aromas of black cherries and cardamon, chocolate, and roasted coffee. Smooth and subtle supple tannins and clean finish; medium in length. Very Enjoyable but I believe there are better values for the price
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12/1/2013 - dollars48 wrote: 91 Points
Not quite as good as 2010 or 2009, but you will still be hard pressed to fine a better match when you are having BBQ pork ribs or a pork shoulder. The fruit in the front & tannins on the finish are a prefect match with pork a spicy BBQ sauce.
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11/27/2013 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 89 Points
The first I had with this wine is I tasted it against Bedrock Old Vine, trying to get a dollar for dollar comparison of Zinfandel, Bedrock blew it away. But by itself it is fine, black, blue, and red fruits along with pepper, spices, maybe a little something in the finish I couldn't put my finger on lowered my opinion.
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11/1/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 87 Points
Hennepin Lake's Annual Tasting (Tons of Napa Cabs); 10/30/2013-11/2/2013: Never a fan of Orin Swift and this didn't change anything. Over ripe and sweet oak. Dust on the finish. Should cost $15.
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10/13/2013 - drdecanto wrote:
Wow, this bottle was like night and day compared to the last one only a few weeks ago. Both came from Costco. This was thin. Fruit was subdued. Might go back for another. Best 2 out of 3?
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9/21/2013 - bterry3 Likes this wine: 87 Points
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Dust. It tastes like Blackberry, and Black currant (cassis). The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium. A nice Zin... typical fruit forward with a pleasant finish. Good for the price
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9/19/2013 - AerinAlese wrote: 85 Points
I let this breath for an hour after consuming it. It wasn't bad it just wasn't as good as other 2011 vintages that I've had from the same producer at the same price point. I would pick up a bottle of abstract over this if I had the option. Jam and oak are the main two things I get from tasting this wine with the latter being more dominant. The tannins weren't as bad as a cheap red on the plus side but I've had six-dollar bottles (from other producers i.e. gypsy's the chariot) that I would say were similar or even a better value than this wine.
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9/16/2013 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 92 Points
I seem to like this wine much more than most others. I like the big fruit. I didn't find the oak to be imposing. My only hesitation with this wine is the price. At $24, I think that there are a number of competitors in the high teens low twenties.
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6/15/2013 - PeterM12 wrote: 91 Points
Black cherry prevalent with hints of plum and warm spice.
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6/1/2013 - joraesque wrote: 87 Points
Orin Swift/Dave Phinney Tasting (Blackwell's Wines & Spirits): Crowd-pleaser with blackberry notes, framed by bright fruit and with some bubblegum in the background. 87+
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