My, what four more years of aging did! We had 2 bottles and both showed equally well. Lush and full flavors of Blueberries and Blackberries with a smooth mouth-feel that had a light, but persistent briariness on the edges. A light tannin came into the middle and intensified to a nice, moderate level at the end of the mouth. This wine is still going strong and drinking superbly right now.
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PnP. Purple garnet and slightly opaque in the glass, some sediment. Nose is sweet strawberry jam and pepper. Palate is sort of simple with sweet red fruit and spices with heat from alcohol. Improved a little over a couple days. What can I say, it’s a <$20 Italian field blend from super old vines in a weird part of CA. How good does it need to be? It easily exceeds whatever your answer is, but if you drink a ton of sophisticated wine, in general, you’ll find this wanting.
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This is a fruity, juicy and indulgent Zin. It has nice spice and briariness and good balance. Finish is a tight tannic oak and fruit. It has good acid so along with a nice structure, it should be able to hang around for years.
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Last of a six pack, and probably the best showing of any. Descent aromatics, good balance, medium short finish..other bottles 88-90 pts, this one 90plus
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bottle number 5 out of a 6 pick..popped and poured. This seems to be opening up, most others have shown quite tight and reticent. The nose has become more apparent, and dark fruits more expressive on the palate. It can probably go for sometime.
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I haven't poured a Zin in a while. I tend to drink Italy and Rhone wines with some cab and Bordeaux in the mix now and then. I like and have had some great Zins, particularly ones like Saldo and such that are often combined with Syrah and bring those hints of spice and licorice. Not sure what to expect here but the label attracted me and the price was a good every day wine so we will see.
Color is deep purple and opaque. Wine has good clarity overall. The nose shouts Zin. It is fruit forward but there is a medicinal backdrop I am not in love with. Also something else that bothers me on the nose.
That something else is there on the palate too. This is a alcohol fruit bomb so if that is what you like, this will fit. It's a combination of dark blackberry and sweet red cherry. It's laced with vanilla. There is no trace of Syrah or anything else in this blend I can clearly identify. There is some grain and structure in the mouthfeel, thank God. Decent acidity and high alcholol deliver some structure. Without it we'd be talking pure grape Juice.
Balance is a judgement call based on what the winemaker was going for and what you like. Frankly I think it achieves what it set out to regardless of the fact this doesn't work for me at all. Finish is ok. Not long but holds together.
This one is one of those that is just hard to score. I don't like it. I expect to pour this one down the drain and open something else. This is just too much fruit and too much alcohol. Not a pleasant experience. I don't think it will cellar well. High alcohol usually doesn't but given the fruit, it may. I tend to think the fruit will go flat and the alcohol will turn to vinegar and it will be a true loser on aging. Could be wrong and I did not check to see if there is a track record.
So to score this, I almost have to consider there could be two scores. One based on wine styles I like and one based on this style and what the winemaker was trying to do and the audience he/she was trying to court. I think that second score would probably fit in the range of some of the other people who averaged this thing to be a 90. I can't get myself to that. However, my personal score, predicated by the fact that this is not my style is quire different:
7/5/5/5/5 - 27/77
I will revisit it in a couple hours and see if it improves and unpacks.
So it does get a bit better with some aeration but I am still not a fan.
7/5/5/6/6 - 29/79
Just looked this wine up. It is a blend. 76% Zinfandel, 13% Carignane, 5% Petite Sirah, 4% Mataro, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. That's a lot going on. This blend is somewhat schizophrenic. I get it. Winemakers blend from all over the world at times and when it works your a genius. When it doesn't? Well the wine has no soul. The Mataro (Mouvedre) is what is giving the gamy notes to this wine. Classic blend grape in Southern Rhone. Carignan has a big history and while originating in Spain was a big contributor to central valley CA Jug wine. Alicante originated in France and had a big role in CA during prohibition. None of these blend grape in my mind marry well to the Zin. I can't imagine the strategy the winemaker was going for in taste profile. Lots of other bottles I would pay 16 dollars for first.
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I broke my rule of cellaring at least 3 weeks after receiving a bottle to allow it to settle down but it did well. Fruity and briary, big and alcoholic - everything blends well together. the finish was quite tight and long. Aerate or decant this one to get it to open up a bit! Structure, acid , and alcohol are right - this one should cellar well.
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I've had this before and liked it. This time around not certain it's worth buying much of. Dark full body and flavor was fine. Bit acidic but acceptable. IMO not worthy of a case buy.
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Mid to dark red, reddish fruit profile with touch darker components. Heat noticeable. Could use complexity but nice milk chocolate note upon opening. Not my favorite style anymore but would certainly have no issue serving at party and pleasing a crowd.
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Oh snap. Now this is a wine with QPR. Deep blackberry and concentrated plum with an earthy underpinning. A little heat throughout, but lingering finish and fantastic depth and extraction. Case buy
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This wine comes from vine about 100 years old. No typical sin chocolate notes but more dark & fruity. Has 15.4% abv & was so strong I could feel it on my eyes as I smelled & swirled. Yum!
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excellent zin. not as peppery/brambly as the 2011 and 2012, but a really nice more pure fruit zin. The 11 and 12 were perfect for BBQ sauces etc, but this is a very nice versatile food wine, and is a pretty nice sipper.
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2016 ZAP Trade Tasting, nose of vanilla/oak, rich, black fruit, aromatic, more of the same on the palate, needs time to overcome the vanilla/oak, medium/big body, well blended varietals help the complexity, tasty, long finish, at $22 an exciting Zinfandel to pair with everyday food.
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Still very young, the first thing you notice is big oak on the nose. Once it gets to the palate it does a surprising job of integrating the 15.4% alcohol, all that oak, and some serious upfront fruit. All the vines are at least 100 years old and dry farmed in sandy loam soil. They added 13% Carignane, 5% Petit Sirah, 4% Mataro and 2% Alicante Bouschette, all of which bring some remarkable complexity and wide array of deep fruit flavors to the already potent 76% Zinfandel. At this time the oak is almost too much from a creamy vanilla point of view, but it is surprising how not heavy and light on it's feet a wine this big feels.
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2/2/2024 - ssekdad wrote: 85 Points
lost the original brambly fruit character that I remember, a little awkward and unbalanced now, probably kept it too long
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1/1/2024 - wtianseter wrote: 91 Points
Fruity, spicy, and downright good with a smoothness that is a wonderful expression of its age.
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5/22/2023 - wtianseter wrote: 92 Points
My, what four more years of aging did! We had 2 bottles and both showed equally well. Lush and full flavors of Blueberries and Blackberries with a smooth mouth-feel that had a light, but persistent briariness on the edges. A light tannin came into the middle and intensified to a nice, moderate level at the end of the mouth. This wine is still going strong and drinking superbly right now.
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1/20/2022 - schlotz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Last bottle and well worth it!
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4/1/2020 - cchoukal wrote:
PnP. Purple garnet and slightly opaque in the glass, some sediment. Nose is sweet strawberry jam and pepper. Palate is sort of simple with sweet red fruit and spices with heat from alcohol. Improved a little over a couple days. What can I say, it’s a <$20 Italian field blend from super old vines in a weird part of CA. How good does it need to be? It easily exceeds whatever your answer is, but if you drink a ton of sophisticated wine, in general, you’ll find this wanting.
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7/27/2019 - wtianseter wrote: 89 Points
Fruity, spicy and drinkable
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4/13/2019 - wtianseter wrote: 88 Points
This bottle was not as good as most but still nice and drinkable
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1/8/2018 - wtianseter wrote: 90 Points
This is a fruity, juicy and indulgent Zin. It has nice spice and briariness and good balance. Finish is a tight tannic oak and fruit. It has good acid so along with a nice structure, it should be able to hang around for years.
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12/13/2017 - thalver wrote:
Last of a six pack, and probably the best showing of any. Descent aromatics, good balance, medium short finish..other bottles 88-90 pts, this one 90plus
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7/5/2017 - mzmijewski Likes this wine: 86 Points
Alcohol overpowers the wine. Acid is second and finish is short.
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6/11/2017 - thalver wrote:
bottle number 5 out of a 6 pick..popped and poured. This seems to be opening up, most others have shown quite tight and reticent. The nose has become more apparent, and dark fruits more expressive on the palate. It can probably go for sometime.
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5/21/2017 - fm1488 Does not like this wine: 79 Points
I haven't poured a Zin in a while. I tend to drink Italy and Rhone wines with some cab and Bordeaux in the mix now and then. I like and have had some great Zins, particularly ones like Saldo and such that are often combined with Syrah and bring those hints of spice and licorice. Not sure what to expect here but the label attracted me and the price was a good every day wine so we will see.
Color is deep purple and opaque. Wine has good clarity overall. The nose shouts Zin. It is fruit forward but there is a medicinal backdrop I am not in love with. Also something else that bothers me on the nose.
That something else is there on the palate too. This is a alcohol fruit bomb so if that is what you like, this will fit. It's a combination of dark blackberry and sweet red cherry. It's laced with vanilla. There is no trace of Syrah or anything else in this blend I can clearly identify. There is some grain and structure in the mouthfeel, thank God. Decent acidity and high alcholol deliver some structure. Without it we'd be talking pure grape Juice.
Balance is a judgement call based on what the winemaker was going for and what you like. Frankly I think it achieves what it set out to regardless of the fact this doesn't work for me at all. Finish is ok. Not long but holds together.
This one is one of those that is just hard to score. I don't like it. I expect to pour this one down the drain and open something else. This is just too much fruit and too much alcohol. Not a pleasant experience. I don't think it will cellar well. High alcohol usually doesn't but given the fruit, it may. I tend to think the fruit will go flat and the alcohol will turn to vinegar and it will be a true loser on aging. Could be wrong and I did not check to see if there is a track record.
So to score this, I almost have to consider there could be two scores. One based on wine styles I like and one based on this style and what the winemaker was trying to do and the audience he/she was trying to court. I think that second score would probably fit in the range of some of the other people who averaged this thing to be a 90. I can't get myself to that. However, my personal score, predicated by the fact that this is not my style is quire different:
7/5/5/5/5 - 27/77
I will revisit it in a couple hours and see if it improves and unpacks.
So it does get a bit better with some aeration but I am still not a fan.
7/5/5/6/6 - 29/79
Just looked this wine up. It is a blend. 76% Zinfandel, 13% Carignane, 5% Petite Sirah, 4% Mataro, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. That's a lot going on. This blend is somewhat schizophrenic. I get it. Winemakers blend from all over the world at times and when it works your a genius. When it doesn't? Well the wine has no soul. The Mataro (Mouvedre) is what is giving the gamy notes to this wine. Classic blend grape in Southern Rhone. Carignan has a big history and while originating in Spain was a big contributor to central valley CA Jug wine. Alicante originated in France and had a big role in CA during prohibition. None of these blend grape in my mind marry well to the Zin. I can't imagine the strategy the winemaker was going for in taste profile. Lots of other bottles I would pay 16 dollars for first.
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5/20/2017 - wtianseter wrote: 90 Points
I broke my rule of cellaring at least 3 weeks after receiving a bottle to allow it to settle down but it did well. Fruity and briary, big and alcoholic - everything blends well together. the finish was quite tight and long. Aerate or decant this one to get it to open up a bit! Structure, acid , and alcohol are right - this one should cellar well.
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4/1/2017 - Pedroel Likes this wine: 90 Points
A bit tight at first, but opened up after a couple of hours. Think it will improve with time. Not a jammy style, rather good acidity. Nice.
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12/26/2016 - schlotz wrote: 87 Points
I've had this before and liked it. This time around not certain it's worth buying much of. Dark full body and flavor was fine. Bit acidic but acceptable. IMO not worthy of a case buy.
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9/5/2016 - texaswinelover wrote: 88 Points
Mid to dark red, reddish fruit profile with touch darker components. Heat noticeable. Could use complexity but nice milk chocolate note upon opening. Not my favorite style anymore but would certainly have no issue serving at party and pleasing a crowd.
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8/15/2016 - CappyD Likes this wine: 88 Points
Old vine Z. Med. red, nice fruity tang up front, soft. Definitely worth retry.
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8/7/2016 - jviz wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic wine. 3 for 3 bottles. Top notch QPR. pushing 93 pts. Great fruit, concentration, tannic backbone. Party favorite
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7/14/2016 - jviz wrote: 92 Points
Oh snap. Now this is a wine with QPR. Deep blackberry and concentrated plum with an earthy underpinning. A little heat throughout, but lingering finish and fantastic depth and extraction. Case buy
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5/21/2016 - Mrs. Q Likes this wine:
This wine comes from vine about 100 years old. No typical sin chocolate notes but more dark & fruity. Has 15.4% abv & was so strong I could feel it on my eyes as I smelled & swirled. Yum!
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3/1/2016 - NapaTom Likes this wine: 91 Points
excellent zin. not as peppery/brambly as the 2011 and 2012, but a really nice more pure fruit zin. The 11 and 12 were perfect for BBQ sauces etc, but this is a very nice versatile food wine, and is a pretty nice sipper.
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2/25/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 89 Points
2016 ZAP Trade Tasting, nose of vanilla/oak, rich, black fruit, aromatic, more of the same on the palate, needs time to overcome the vanilla/oak, medium/big body, well blended varietals help the complexity, tasty, long finish, at $22 an exciting Zinfandel to pair with everyday food.
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11/11/2015 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 91 Points
Still very young, the first thing you notice is big oak on the nose. Once it gets to the palate it does a surprising job of integrating the 15.4% alcohol, all that oak, and some serious upfront fruit. All the vines are at least 100 years old and dry farmed in sandy loam soil. They added 13% Carignane, 5% Petit Sirah, 4% Mataro and 2% Alicante Bouschette, all of which bring some remarkable complexity and wide array of deep fruit flavors to the already potent 76% Zinfandel. At this time the oak is almost too much from a creamy vanilla point of view, but it is surprising how not heavy and light on it's feet a wine this big feels.
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