This was simply divine! One of the best Seghesio's I've had. It was really drinking well after 1 hr decant. No heat on the nose or palate. Dark fruit, stewed and cured meats, earth, black lava salt, and luscious tannins. Fully body with medium + finish. It's pretty amazing a Zin can hold up 10 years. I wish I had more!
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Last bottle was 12/08. Cortina is always hot...not this bottle, though. Gorgeous right out the gate, and got better with air. Typical austere dry creek style with nice bottle age. I'm not drinking my cortinas for years. The next day was 1-2 pts less.
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Pop and pour - drinking surprisingly well (better than bottle I had 6-8 months ago). Nice balance, very smooth, not a spicy zin but not overly sweet either. None of the port/raisin flavors described by others. Nice showing for a wine purportedly out of its drinking window. For $25 in 2011 this was a great QPR and a nice older wine to have around.
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Popped cork for 1 hour. Clear, deep dark purple color, no bricking. Nice Zin nose. Very good wine, super balace, soft but full flavered, no hint of over the top. A nice drinking wine in a good drinkiing window. Nothing off.
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This is my wife and I's favorite Dry creek zin. Unfortunately we held it too long. Raisiny, porty, showed poorly. Major bummer for us. Drink now for the experience or hold as a show bottle.
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aging nicely. Mellowed out a bit, but can’t go on much longer. peppery nose overlay good grape in the taste. Stil has some nice structure. Some glycerine texture.
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This is a steal for the price. It's a very good, everyday Zin that is much better than it's price would imply. Zin is a no frills, uncomplicated but very drinkable wine that is very flexible in terms of matching with food. It also is a great sipping wine for before and after dinner. This didn't finish as well as the prior bottle I had, but I'm still a believer in Seghesio. A great value.
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Wonderful blackberry with tobacco and cassis. A nice soft leathery finish. A great example of a Zinfandel. At the end of the bottle we had this with blackberries and the flavors instead of clashing, melded together perfectly. The best Seghesio bottle I've every had.
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COLOR: 4/5 - Gorgeous bing cherry red color, bright and translucent around the edges. NOSE: 13/15 - Black raspberry and black currant *e*x*p*l*o*d*e* from the glass. Tobacco and maybe a little brussel sprout are hanging around there in the background. TASTE: 8/10 - Silky smooth structure and balance are immediately evident. Jammy fruit is in perfect harmony with strong tannins and stiff alcohol. There is nothing about this that says, "I'm over 15% alcohol." FINISH: 8/10 - The denouement brings a succession of dark cherry, oak, raisin, and concludes, oddly enough, with candied cassis. POTENTIAL: 3/5 - While zins aren't particularly known for their aging abilities, there's some solid body to this wine that gives this the feel of wine that could actually hang around for a few years. That said, this is showing VERY well right now. OVERALL: 5/5 - As a total package, this is a drop dead gorgeous glass of wine. The nose on this wine alone is worth the experience and I was extrememly pleased that the rest of the package was equally enticing. Everyone needs to buy a bottle like this to understand what you can get when you venture outside of the >$20 price range.
Call this 91+ points with the (+) coming from losing a bit on 'potential' and a point on the color looking a bit thin. I wouldn't hesitate at giving this 92+ on nose/taste/finish alone.
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The 2003 Cortina was a very disappointing introduction to this offering from Seghesio. The redemption found in 2004's bottling more than makes up for the previous vintage. The initial nose and first few sips bring nothing but oaky bitterness, forcing the edges of one's mouth into a comical grimace. After a few minutes, a strange, sweet nose of bananas and vanilla appear. Then comes the fruit - in tidal waves.
The 2004 Cortina delivers broad strokes of dark fruit (blackberries, raspberries) and spice box aromas that try their best to mask the 15.3% alcohol. This wine is opulent, plain and simple. Rich mouthfeel, generous fruit, subtle spice and oak shadings...it's a complete package. Anyone who may have shared my dismay with the 2003 Cortina would do well to forgive the Seghesio family and try a bottle of the current release. As Hugh Johnson (and Paul Draper) noted several times before, why age a Zin when it drinks so well now?
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Much better than the 2003, in my opinion. Nice oak integration, and it appears that the Cortina and Home Ranch rely on oak for more of their character than the fruit-forward Old Vine release. Tasted over the course of six hours, with dark, rich fruit front-and-center for the frst three hours. Caramel and oak shadings took over during the last half of the tasting, though the wine remained very enjoyable. I was somewhat concerned when the wine began to fall apart during the last hour. Still, I believe that Seghesio is among the greatest Zin producers in California.
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Color is dark garnet. Nose reveals spicy (peppery) blackberry and plum with a touch of volatile alcohol. On the palate, ripe blackberry is met with spice, wood, and tar. Tannins are noticable, but sweet, and the wine finishes with a bit of heat. Enjoyable.
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Nice forward fruit. Although the alcohol is higher than we prefer, it wasn't syrupy like many zins are nowadays. It make sme believe that the 15.3% level noted on the lable is closer to actual, than allowed difference.
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4/17/2017 - Vino_Rosso Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just wonderful. Even 13 years old. One more left!
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11/10/2014 - ZachF88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was simply divine! One of the best Seghesio's I've had. It was really drinking well after 1 hr decant. No heat on the nose or palate. Dark fruit, stewed and cured meats, earth, black lava salt, and luscious tannins. Fully body with medium + finish. It's pretty amazing a Zin can hold up 10 years. I wish I had more!
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2/18/2014 - Rupert wrote: 88 Points
Sweet, berried, some leather, a less welcome oxidative tone, porty and alcoholic. Ultimately overweight.
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5/12/2012 - arthrovine wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle was 12/08. Cortina is always hot...not this bottle, though. Gorgeous right out the gate, and got better with air. Typical austere dry creek style with nice bottle age. I'm not drinking my cortinas for years. The next day was 1-2 pts less.
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4/19/2012 - daniel.jay wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour - drinking surprisingly well (better than bottle I had 6-8 months ago). Nice balance, very smooth, not a spicy zin but not overly sweet either. None of the port/raisin flavors described by others. Nice showing for a wine purportedly out of its drinking window. For $25 in 2011 this was a great QPR and a nice older wine to have around.
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8/28/2011 - Barry Notes wrote: 88 Points
Popped cork for 1 hour. Clear, deep dark purple color, no bricking. Nice Zin nose. Very good wine, super balace, soft but full flavered, no hint of over the top. A nice drinking wine in a good drinkiing window. Nothing off.
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7/8/2011 - daniel.jay wrote: 89 Points
Very tasty wine - smooth, pleasant, taste of ripe fruit, jammy, sweet notes, minimal spice
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1/22/2011 - geoFre13 wrote: 81 Points
This is my wife and I's favorite Dry creek zin. Unfortunately we held it too long. Raisiny, porty, showed poorly. Major bummer for us. Drink now for the experience or hold as a show bottle.
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10/16/2010 - patent_atty wrote: 91 Points
fantastic nose
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10/16/2010 - patent_atty wrote: 91 Points
nose is excellent
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12/25/2009 - Corrado wrote: 90 Points
This wine is still going strong and has maintained it's powerful nose and tremendous fruit-forward flavor & finish.
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8/29/2009 - Haggis wrote: 91 Points
Dark, rich, opulent fruit (blackberry, cassis), mocha, and spice, with velvety tannins. Very good on day 1; outstanding on day 2.
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6/27/2009 - twoamps wrote: 89 Points
aging nicely. Mellowed out a bit, but can’t go on much longer. peppery nose overlay good grape in the taste. Stil has some nice structure. Some glycerine texture.
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3/1/2009 - dboutt wrote: 88 Points
Drinking great right now. Raisny, fruit bomb. Still lots of life left.
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9/26/2008 - jthielen wrote: 90 Points
Great black fruits, cherry and dried red fruits. Nice spicy soft leathery finish.
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9/15/2008 - jthielen wrote: 90 Points
Consistant with the first 2 bottles. Great fruit and leathery finish.
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8/10/2008 - JJA wrote: 89 Points
This is a steal for the price. It's a very good, everyday Zin that is much better than it's price would imply. Zin is a no frills, uncomplicated but very drinkable wine that is very flexible in terms of matching with food. It also is a great sipping wine for before and after dinner. This didn't finish as well as the prior bottle I had, but I'm still a believer in Seghesio. A great value.
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8/10/2008 - jthielen wrote: 90 Points
Simply beautiful. Nice black fruits with a smooth leathery finish. Stood up to burgers with onions.
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5/6/2008 - gmat5497 wrote: 90 Points
First time user. Very impressed. Full of fruit. Smooth.
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4/13/2008 - Corrado wrote:
Consistent with last note; excellent all around fruit-forward, lush, Zinfandel.
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12/27/2007 - cmr wrote: 90 Points
Rich black fruit with a nice touch of spice. Good finish, Delicious as usual.
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11/12/2007 - psmith wrote:
Dense black spicy fruit. A surprisingly structured, tannic finish. Solid wine.
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10/21/2007 - jthielen wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful blackberry with tobacco and cassis. A nice soft leathery finish. A great example of a Zinfandel. At the end of the bottle we had this with blackberries and the flavors instead of clashing, melded together perfectly. The best Seghesio bottle I've every had.
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9/10/2007 - Corrado wrote: 91 Points
Wine @ 62F when tasted from a Bordeaux glass.
COLOR: 4/5 - Gorgeous bing cherry red color, bright and translucent around the edges.
NOSE: 13/15 - Black raspberry and black currant *e*x*p*l*o*d*e* from the glass. Tobacco and maybe a little brussel sprout are hanging around there in the background.
TASTE: 8/10 - Silky smooth structure and balance are immediately evident. Jammy fruit is in perfect harmony with strong tannins and stiff alcohol. There is nothing about this that says, "I'm over 15% alcohol."
FINISH: 8/10 - The denouement brings a succession of dark cherry, oak, raisin, and concludes, oddly enough, with candied cassis.
POTENTIAL: 3/5 - While zins aren't particularly known for their aging abilities, there's some solid body to this wine that gives this the feel of wine that could actually hang around for a few years. That said, this is showing VERY well right now.
OVERALL: 5/5 - As a total package, this is a drop dead gorgeous glass of wine. The nose on this wine alone is worth the experience and I was extrememly pleased that the rest of the package was equally enticing. Everyone needs to buy a bottle like this to understand what you can get when you venture outside of the >$20 price range.
Call this 91+ points with the (+) coming from losing a bit on 'potential' and a point on the color looking a bit thin. I wouldn't hesitate at giving this 92+ on nose/taste/finish alone.
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6/23/2007 - cmr wrote: 90 Points
Rich black fruit with a nice touch of spice. Good finish, Delicious as usual.
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5/26/2007 - cmr wrote: 91 Points
Excellent rich dark fruit with nice spice and smooth tannins.
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5/25/2007 - Frodnesor wrote: 91 Points
Rich black fruits, ample spice, abundant but well-integrated tannins. Nicely structured and balanced and holds the 15.3% alcohol in well.
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4/8/2007 - DrewGoin wrote: 91 Points
The 2003 Cortina was a very disappointing introduction to this offering from Seghesio. The redemption found in 2004's bottling more than makes up for the previous vintage. The initial nose and first few sips bring nothing but oaky bitterness, forcing the edges of one's mouth into a comical grimace. After a few minutes, a strange, sweet nose of bananas and vanilla appear. Then comes the fruit - in tidal waves.
The 2004 Cortina delivers broad strokes of dark fruit (blackberries, raspberries) and spice box aromas that try their best to mask the 15.3% alcohol. This wine is opulent, plain and simple. Rich mouthfeel, generous fruit, subtle spice and oak shadings...it's a complete package. Anyone who may have shared my dismay with the 2003 Cortina would do well to forgive the Seghesio family and try a bottle of the current release. As Hugh Johnson (and Paul Draper) noted several times before, why age a Zin when it drinks so well now?
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3/10/2007 - DrewGoin wrote: 89 Points
Much better than the 2003, in my opinion. Nice oak integration, and it appears that the Cortina and Home Ranch rely on oak for more of their character than the fruit-forward Old Vine release. Tasted over the course of six hours, with dark, rich fruit front-and-center for the frst three hours. Caramel and oak shadings took over during the last half of the tasting, though the wine remained very enjoyable. I was somewhat concerned when the wine began to fall apart during the last hour. Still, I believe that Seghesio is among the greatest Zin producers in California.
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2/2/2007 - SonomaFan wrote: 86 Points
Probably needs a little longer before it's as good as it will be.
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12/3/2006 - dstrzelec wrote: 94 Points
I'm a big fan of Zins. Seghesio, in my opinion, is one of the top CA Zin producers, and this is the best Zin of theirs I've had so far.
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7/12/2006 - Thilo wrote: 89 Points
Color is dark garnet. Nose reveals spicy (peppery) blackberry and plum with a touch of volatile alcohol. On the palate, ripe blackberry is met with spice, wood, and tar. Tannins are noticable, but sweet, and the wine finishes with a bit of heat. Enjoyable.
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5/23/2006 - odu83 wrote: 89 Points
Nice forward fruit. Although the alcohol is higher than we prefer, it wasn't syrupy like many zins are nowadays. It make sme believe that the 15.3% level noted on the lable is closer to actual, than allowed difference.
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