On day 2 here. Stored overnight on the countertop at about 71 degrees. Good fruit character and definitey jammy, though less so than last night. Slickness comes through a bit more, ending with some fruit on the finish. This could cellar a while longer, but drinking well now (better with some air).
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Same as last note. Jammy and lacking some of the varietal character I love in Zins from other regions. A good wine, but definitely not worth the Napa premium.
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This was a nice year. These wines would have been in the barrel during the horrific Tubbs fire of 2017. This has aged nicely and probably has more time left, but why wait.
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So complex! spicy on the nose...a little floral...nice tannins provided complexity. long finish. a little sweet, a little spicy , a lot of complexity i'm still trying to remember what it was....
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From 375 mL. On pop-and-pour this is very tight and acidic, with some nice bright red fruit but not enough fullness to handle the acid. After around 2 hours this has filled out and become a lot better. Medium chalky to grainy tannins, quite chewy and savory, lots of almond skin on the finish. Some nice spiced fruit character, but still too acidic and a little green. Zinfandel can be difficult this way, and it feels like the sugar ripeness got ahead of the phenolic ripeness on this one. Having said that, it's well made. Oak is in check, alcohol is in check, and with food it is much better. Still. It's all well and good pursuing delicacy and restraint in a region where wines tend to be too big, but you still have to ripen the fruit... 14.8%, $15/375 mL.
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PnP. 14.7% which it hid well. Medium+ body Well balanced not over the top zin (feel funny saying that at 14.7%) that is zesty and fresh. More elegant (fruit is bold and in full effect) just a bit more austere than what we are used to (turley/ridge/seghesio) but in a good/different way. Tasty dark fruit/blackberry/ cherry, but with good spice/oak/tobacco/earth and complexity. Dry lingering finish.
Drink or hold. zins we consume tend to be bigger than this, so this was a nice contrast and enjoyable bottle. Would buy below $40 and enjoy when not in the mood for a full throttle zin, but want more than a pinot.
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As Zinfandels go, this has some structure. Wild, slightly tart red fruits . Great presence which worked with the jalapeño sausages and grilled peppers and onions.
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Have heard really good things about this zin and wanted to try it. But I didn't find it a strong QPR. Will wait another year or two to open the next bottle.
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Dark earthy soil, charred oak, peppered bacon on the nose. Rustic raspberry with an underlying sour plum note, then a flash of red licorice, mulberry, and spice. Chalky finish with cherry, allspice, mace, black pepper, and wet oak.
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I regard Storybook as a high quality producer of zin. One of the best in Cali. Red fruit, leather and pepper. Some heat with rounded tannin. Still a quality zin but expected more. Won’t let this one bottle steer me from trying more from them in the future.
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Heavy American oak nose. Burst of brambly red raspberry, a pinch of acidity, and then the oak wallop with coconut, smoke, and spice. Fat, wide tannins with blackberry, red cherry, cinnamon, red pepper, and a punchy black pepper finish. A brawny, oak-centric style.
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Just not the right mix; not terrible, but not enjoyable. Have tasted other Storybook Zins (as I recall the vineyard designates) and really enjoyed them, but this came up well short. Heat from the alcohol (14.7) but somehow also underripe green bell pepper, and just a little too sweet. My guess is they had to pick this too early due to rapid sugar development, and it didn't get to develop the corresponding ripe flavors on the vine. I do appreciate that it isn't a jammy bomb. From 375.
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1/31/2024 - LightDancer wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, elegant wine. Had less of typical bramble-ness. On the second night, it became more diffuse and less focused. Still was a fine bottle.
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8/12/2023 - Jake112380 Likes this wine: 90 Points
On day 2 here. Stored overnight on the countertop at about 71 degrees. Good fruit character and definitey jammy, though less so than last night. Slickness comes through a bit more, ending with some fruit on the finish. This could cellar a while longer, but drinking well now (better with some air).
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6/10/2023 - elevwine Likes this wine:
Same as last note. Jammy and lacking some of the varietal character I love in Zins from other regions. A good wine, but definitely not worth the Napa premium.
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2/28/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was a nice year. These wines would have been in the barrel during the horrific Tubbs fire of 2017. This has aged nicely and probably has more time left, but why wait.
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2/17/2023 - Jake112380 wrote: 90 Points
A little spicy, a little jammy. Medium body. Medium length finish. Pretty enjoyable overall.
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1/3/2023 - elevwine Likes this wine: 89 Points
A good wine, but not my kin of Zin. I find Napa Zins to be a bit jammier, and missing the pepper and bite of other regions.
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12/29/2022 - calimo Likes this wine: 90 Points
So complex! spicy on the nose...a little floral...nice tannins provided complexity. long finish. a little sweet, a little spicy , a lot of complexity i'm still trying to remember what it was....
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8/28/2022 - SDzinner wrote:
Beautiful zin.
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4/18/2022 - Blueberryhill Likes this wine: 94 Points
God I loved this wine...Crystal
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2/23/2022 - Benj wrote: 88 Points
From 375 mL. On pop-and-pour this is very tight and acidic, with some nice bright red fruit but not enough fullness to handle the acid. After around 2 hours this has filled out and become a lot better. Medium chalky to grainy tannins, quite chewy and savory, lots of almond skin on the finish. Some nice spiced fruit character, but still too acidic and a little green. Zinfandel can be difficult this way, and it feels like the sugar ripeness got ahead of the phenolic ripeness on this one. Having said that, it's well made. Oak is in check, alcohol is in check, and with food it is much better. Still. It's all well and good pursuing delicacy and restraint in a region where wines tend to be too big, but you still have to ripen the fruit... 14.8%, $15/375 mL.
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2/11/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Ripe and blackberry compote on the nose. Bold drinking on the palate but not without structure. In fact, quite a bit of structure as it goes.
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1/16/2022 - Steve Simmons Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP.
14.7% which it hid well.
Medium+ body
Well balanced not over the top zin (feel funny saying that at 14.7%) that is zesty and fresh. More elegant (fruit is bold and in full effect) just a bit more austere than what we are used to (turley/ridge/seghesio) but in a good/different way. Tasty dark fruit/blackberry/ cherry, but with good spice/oak/tobacco/earth and complexity. Dry lingering finish.
Drink or hold. zins we consume tend to be bigger than this, so this was a nice contrast and enjoyable bottle. Would buy below $40 and enjoy when not in the mood for a full throttle zin, but want more than a pinot.
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11/7/2021 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
As Zinfandels go, this has some structure. Wild, slightly tart red fruits . Great presence which worked with the jalapeño sausages and grilled peppers and onions.
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10/23/2021 - Quarked wrote: 87 Points
Have heard really good things about this zin and wanted to try it. But I didn't find it a strong QPR. Will wait another year or two to open the next bottle.
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9/9/2021 - WineTimeFineTime wrote: 90 Points
Tart but with depth, char and dried strawberries. Slightly austere in a way that makes for good pairings.
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7/20/2021 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark earthy soil, charred oak, peppered bacon on the nose. Rustic raspberry with an underlying sour plum note, then a flash of red licorice, mulberry, and spice. Chalky finish with cherry, allspice, mace, black pepper, and wet oak.
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7/2/2021 - RojoVino24 wrote: 89 Points
I regard Storybook as a high quality producer of zin. One of the best in Cali. Red fruit, leather and pepper. Some heat with rounded tannin. Still a quality zin but expected more. Won’t let this one bottle steer me from trying more from them in the future.
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5/31/2021 - Daniel___Walsh Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very strong pepper notes in a traditional Zinfandel.
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5/12/2021 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 90 Points
Heavy American oak nose. Burst of brambly red raspberry, a pinch of acidity, and then the oak wallop with coconut, smoke, and spice. Fat, wide tannins with blackberry, red cherry, cinnamon, red pepper, and a punchy black pepper finish. A brawny, oak-centric style.
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4/28/2021 - Ticker tape guy Likes this wine: 90 Points
still rather bold..firm but polished tannins a lot of dried stone fruit and a nice lingering finish..enjoyed with a grilled beef burger
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2/6/2021 - Château de Farmer wrote: 85 Points
Just not the right mix; not terrible, but not enjoyable. Have tasted other Storybook Zins (as I recall the vineyard designates) and really enjoyed them, but this came up well short. Heat from the alcohol (14.7) but somehow also underripe green bell pepper, and just a little too sweet. My guess is they had to pick this too early due to rapid sugar development, and it didn't get to develop the corresponding ripe flavors on the vine. I do appreciate that it isn't a jammy bomb. From 375.
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