42nd Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2015s (R&D's): Blind. Aromas of chocolate, vanilla, black zin fruit and dried herbs. Flavors of raspberry, boysenberry, plum, pepper and chocolate. Lacks a little in the midpalate and finish, but otherwise decent. (R&D)
My #8, Domino's #7 Group #2, 43 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the worst of 3 bottles, tried 3 times to give it a chance, but just an unbalanced hot mess that burns the throat and tastes medicinal, like cough syrup gone bad. I'd call it almost port-like, but that would be rude to Port. Recall initially enjoying a taste of this ~3 years ago but my tastes have clearly changed if this was similar then. Cooking wine time, would probably reduce well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
paired with smoked ribs. ok. you really have to like this style of wine (too big and jammy for me) but went well with the sweet heat spice on the ribs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Need to stay true to myself and say this wine was not as I remember from ~1.5 yrs ago - or my tastes have changed that much - since I went for 3 btls. Day 1 this was a bit of a mess with so much sweet syrupy fruit and sharp alcoholic bite, even the 2 hrs in decanter didn't help a lot. 85 pts. There are still elements to enjoy here as the nose promises a nice bouquet of fruit and spice, just over-delivers the jam-berry on the palate. Day 2 things toned down, alcohol blew off and flavors came more into balance, some mint and vanilla notes here, was able to enjoy it more with a spicy chicken sausage, then dark chocolate covered almonds. 87+ Should be 90+ at this price point from memory, so falls short at this time. Perhaps another year or so helps it mellow some but don't expect it to get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted for 1.5 hours and paired with smoked baby back ribs in a honey / brown sugar glaze. pepper spices and balanced black fruits cut the smoked flavors -- outstanding companion and overall fan favorite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruity, sweet, a bit hot, dense, big. For me, this lacks complexity or some interesting spice and/or seems a bit off balance. It is not bad, but was hoping for more, especially at the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
There is an off-putting clove taste right off the bat which turned me off when i first opened it. I let it breathe for about 20 mins and it got better so pop open the bottle for awhile then swirl it in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Solid wine, and balanced, not classic zin in my mind. I was seeking something else when I buy zin but would buy again. Needs some time to breathe and open up then it really starts to shine. This is a table wine style zin albeit a bold table wine. It won’t jump out as overly fruity and pair fine with food. At $25 and under think it is a decent wine to have around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well Phenny has managed to ruin another grape varietal-the 15' is a horrible example of wine making, Over extracted-imagine that- sweet tar, unbalanced garbage. Unlike the 14' which he somehow showed some respect for the grape. This has become my go to cooking wine.
True to Prisoner form this displays a fruity, jammy, and grapey nose of black fruit, currants, and oak. In the mouth this is big, sweet, and dense, but balanced. Plump, juicy fruit flavors and an integrated oak finish round out its profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP. Fragrant nose of cinnamon, cherry and some spice (something like white pepper, not baking spice). Satiny palate with lots of cinnamon and spice on the back end. Firm, but soft tannins on medium long finish. Prisoner is very ubiquitous/commercial, but they do a solid job. This is excellent for this price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What on earth are you people talking about? This wine is an overblown vanilla bomb with a side of fruit. Absolutely horrid. Oh wait, I guess I understand why the general public likes it now...
Clear with deep ruby core and garnet rim. This still red wine visually scary to me; it's similar to Argentinian Malbec. On the nose it was full of blackcherries, blackberries, very pronounced plum, and a touch of smokiness. It's dry with a medium to high acidity and body. Alcohol is very high (15.9%!) with full blown of tannins. For flavours, apart from the plum, blackcherries, and blackberries, it also has Chocolate, vanilla, and a bit of meaty. Its finishes is very long-lasting. This is a really superb wine with at least 7+ years of aging potential due to it's strong structure, particularly with tannins, alcohol, and tannins. Yet, the alcohol is way too high, comparable to those in McClaren Vale, Australia.
Drink well now but it will be better if you can wait a bit more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
P: Med, poss MF, body; Swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by somewhat puckery acidity, that only partially resolving by the LONG, moderately seamless finish. Likely needs 1-2 yrs, then a potential steal unless the R.S. intercedes. [Widely available, this vendor's $19.95 is HIGHLY competitive!]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/13/2024 - wemfinger@mac.com Likes this wine:
we liked it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2023 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
42nd Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2015s (R&D's): Blind. Aromas of chocolate, vanilla, black zin fruit and dried herbs. Flavors of raspberry, boysenberry, plum, pepper and chocolate. Lacks a little in the midpalate and finish, but otherwise decent. (R&D)
My #8, Domino's #7
Group #2, 43 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2021 - ftboomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious with Cabernet boldness and characteristics. Silky smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2020 - Laz4wine Does not like this wine: 80 Points
This was the worst of 3 bottles, tried 3 times to give it a chance, but just an unbalanced hot mess that burns the throat and tastes medicinal, like cough syrup gone bad. I'd call it almost port-like, but that would be rude to Port. Recall initially enjoying a taste of this ~3 years ago but my tastes have clearly changed if this was similar then. Cooking wine time, would probably reduce well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2020 - Announcer Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drank with BBQ ribs - the pairing with the sweet sauce was pretty decent. Not sure I would have scored it this high on its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2019 - Rcapria Likes this wine:
not bad for the money....jammy and high in alcohol ...better the next day....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2019 - EdwardsCellar wrote: 88 Points
paired with smoked ribs. ok. you really have to like this style of wine (too big and jammy for me) but went well with the sweet heat spice on the ribs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2019 - Laz4wine wrote: 86 Points
Need to stay true to myself and say this wine was not as I remember from ~1.5 yrs ago - or my tastes have changed that much - since I went for 3 btls. Day 1 this was a bit of a mess with so much sweet syrupy fruit and sharp alcoholic bite, even the 2 hrs in decanter didn't help a lot. 85 pts. There are still elements to enjoy here as the nose promises a nice bouquet of fruit and spice, just over-delivers the jam-berry on the palate. Day 2 things toned down, alcohol blew off and flavors came more into balance, some mint and vanilla notes here, was able to enjoy it more with a spicy chicken sausage, then dark chocolate covered almonds. 87+ Should be 90+ at this price point from memory, so falls short at this time. Perhaps another year or so helps it mellow some but don't expect it to get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2018 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 83 Points
Hennepin Lake Tasting 2018; 10/11/2018-10/14/2018 (Minneapolis, MN): Another bad wine. Sweet and not balanced. Who pays this much for bad wine??????????? I like balance but this wine shows some people will pay more to drink syrup wines.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2018 - Kentw wrote: 88 Points
An enjoyable zin blend. Nothing special, just good drinking. Mixed red and black fruits with mid palate spice and lasting finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2018 - Salute Likes this wine: 91 Points
very good, full, rich jammy zin
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2018 - EdwardsCellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
decanted for 1.5 hours and paired with smoked baby back ribs in a honey / brown sugar glaze. pepper spices and balanced black fruits cut the smoked flavors -- outstanding companion and overall fan favorite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2018 - DrNorm Likes this wine: 90 Points
very good everyday wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2018 - jrundlet Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great zin. Will be buying more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2018 - PhN Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great Zin character. Good balance, Great with Korean style beef. Much appreciated by all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2018 - ddavoust wrote: 95 Points
Pairs perfectly with Bar B Que. Smooth. Nice finish. No bitterness. Not cloying like some zinfandels. Very well integrate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2018 - Jzizzle wrote: 87 Points
Fruity, sweet, a bit hot, dense, big. For me, this lacks complexity or some interesting spice and/or seems a bit off balance. It is not bad, but was hoping for more, especially at the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2018 - Roger K. wrote: 88 Points
There is an off-putting clove taste right off the bat which turned me off when i first opened it. I let it breathe for about 20 mins and it got better so pop open the bottle for awhile then swirl it in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2018 - Intergraz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid wine, and balanced, not classic zin in my mind. I was seeking something else when I buy zin but would buy again. Needs some time to breathe and open up then it really starts to shine. This is a table wine style zin albeit a bold table wine. It won’t jump out as overly fruity and pair fine with food. At $25 and under think it is a decent wine to have around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2017 - Magicny1 wrote: 87 Points
Good wine but I expected more for the price and name
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2017 - drdecanto wrote: 89 Points
Overblown, but not as bad as others rated it IMHO. Better in other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2017 - wino121 wrote: 79 Points
Well Phenny has managed to ruin another grape varietal-the 15' is a horrible example of wine making,
Over extracted-imagine that- sweet tar, unbalanced garbage.
Unlike the 14' which he somehow showed some respect for the grape.
This has become my go to cooking wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/19/2017 - Euell Gophar Does not like this wine: 69 Points
Awful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2017 - Baron Slick wrote: 88 Points
True to Prisoner form this displays a fruity, jammy, and grapey nose of black fruit, currants, and oak. In the mouth this is big, sweet, and dense, but balanced. Plump, juicy fruit flavors and an integrated oak finish round out its profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2017 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 90 Points
PNP. Fragrant nose of cinnamon, cherry and some spice (something like white pepper, not baking spice). Satiny palate with lots of cinnamon and spice on the back end. Firm, but soft tannins on medium long finish. Prisoner is very ubiquitous/commercial, but they do a solid job. This is excellent for this price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2017 - jwilliams6 Does not like this wine: 75 Points
What on earth are you people talking about? This wine is an overblown vanilla bomb with a side of fruit. Absolutely horrid. Oh wait, I guess I understand why the general public likes it now...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
5/20/2017 - kmacSF wrote: 89 Points
Woodsy and warm with hints of anise and cypress bark finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2017 - nrad6949 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear with deep ruby core and garnet rim. This still red wine visually scary to me; it's similar to Argentinian Malbec. On the nose it was full of blackcherries, blackberries, very pronounced plum, and a touch of smokiness. It's dry with a medium to high acidity and body. Alcohol is very high (15.9%!) with full blown of tannins. For flavours, apart from the plum, blackcherries, and blackberries, it also has Chocolate, vanilla, and a bit of meaty. Its finishes is very long-lasting. This is a really superb wine with at least 7+ years of aging potential due to it's strong structure, particularly with tannins, alcohol, and tannins. Yet, the alcohol is way too high, comparable to those in McClaren Vale, Australia.
Drink well now but it will be better if you can wait a bit more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Zinfandels (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CAAt): N: Closed/muted; smoke, earth; intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss MF, body; Swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by somewhat puckery acidity, that only partially resolving by the LONG, moderately seamless finish. Likely needs 1-2 yrs, then a potential steal unless the R.S. intercedes. [Widely available, this vendor's $19.95 is HIGHLY competitive!]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2017 - beitopod wrote: 92 Points
Bing cherry with hint of cigar tobacco on the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2017 - KevinTucker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big, bold Zin which isn't offensive in any way. The finish is even and long.
Definite notes of vanilla and dark fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2016 - Vita Vinum Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big bold red. Lots of fruit and long on the palate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment