Just okay. Lovely dark color, sweetish nose. a very pronounced core of dark fruit over simple tannins; really not much to this, just a mediocre red wine masquerading as a mid-level Zin. Lots of heat, both on the attack and on the finish. They make nice Pinot, but avoid this. Took this to my brother-in-law's birthday party and was embarassed by the comments.
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This is a concentrated yet very balanced zin. Lots of tobacco, dark dark cherry notes, dusty cocoa, hint at a Cali Cab character; rich, fuller than the RR Zin, and concentrated fruit, but not sweet.Really superb with a long finish.
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Still don't get this wine. More peppery than I remember and a very tough hot, acidic finish overpowereed the cherry fruit behind it. Color looked like pinot. I love their pinots. Am underwhelmed by their zins.
Didn't touch again until day three after being vaccum pumped. Vibbrant cherry fruit with better aciidty and a nice spicey,pepperiness. Add a few points for an 87. Note to self, decant for 6 hours next time.
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I opened this to compare to a recent 2005 Papapietro Perry Pauline's Vineyard Zin which I wasn't too wild about.This wine was also a bit of a disappointment. Another Cellartracker TN said that they would have guessed this as a Pinot Noir. I was thinking the same thing! It possessed an overbearing stemmy green character that I associate with young Oregon and Burgundy. In Pinot, that's not a bad thing. It's a signal to hold, but I can't say where this Russian River Valley Zin is going. Additional flavors of Christmas fruitcake with sour cherries, pine needles, and a hint of sage. A hot nose that also shows some sulfur. Light in body and a rather thin mouthfeel. Hold? Hurry up and drink? I really couldn't say but since I have one bottle of the the Pauline's and one of the Elsbree left and they're obviously not wonderful now, I'll wait and see if a few years in the cellar rounds them out. Next time, I will also pair with a tomato sauce.
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Mostly cherry fruit, but certainly lighter than a normal CA Zin. Not a lot of tannin either. Did have a fair amount of acidity. We had it with lasagna, and it made a good substitute for a light Italian red.
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Would have guessed pinot when I pured it. Color is relatively light. Nose has some berry fruit but there is a funkiness that I would associate with Brett, almost like opening a syrah with green vegetal notes and some barnyard funk. Not quite sure if it is my stle of zin. Hoping it will open up. Tight sour cherry finish. Not a lot of structure to the wine. Kinda of like a bowl of unripe cherries.
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I am glad that I read other reviews before opening this wine because it allowed me to enjoy the uniqueness of the wine without worrying about the varietal "abuse". In general we liked it both with and without food. No score given as I am not sure what it was supposed to be.
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This gets bonus points purely for the uniqueness of flavor. It's obvious that it's not a Dry Creek zin right away. The cherry flavors that hit your tongue makes you think pinot. Definitely Russian River fruit. Their was a nice hint of vanilla oak, smooth and gentle mid palate. The downside was a rush of kool-aid sugars on the finish that lingered too long on the tongue.
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($36) Napa-Noma, May 2008: I was told that the winery intentionally makes a light style of Zinfandel. In keeping with that comment, this wine is light in appearance, especially for Zin. Pinot Noir-like fruit. I consider this Zinfandel abuse.
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Good wine. Opened only because I saw the 74 points WS gave this wine -- since my other PP wines (all Pinots) were good, I had to check. I do not know what they were thinking in saying the flavors are dry and bitter. This is a very fruit filled wine, light/medium in body (almost a pinot texture), with dark red fruit, some cocoa, not hugely complex but very enjoyable. I certainly get very little bitterness (maybe a hint at the end). Not for long term, but good now. TWO HOURS LATEER: Okay, maybe JL is not that far off. With some air, this is getting quite dry at the finish. Lowering the score from 88 to 84. I like the lightness and fruit, but it does not do well with air, is tannic, dry and not real complex.
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12/1/2019 - Javaman wrote:
Errors
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10/7/2012 - daver852 wrote: 85 Points
Just okay. Lovely dark color, sweetish nose. a very pronounced core of dark fruit over simple tannins; really not much to this, just a mediocre red wine masquerading as a mid-level Zin. Lots of heat, both on the attack and on the finish. They make nice Pinot, but avoid this. Took this to my brother-in-law's birthday party and was embarassed by the comments.
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8/12/2010 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
I liked this a lot. Very extracted. About ready do drink now, but may benefit from a bit more time.
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7/28/2010 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
This is a concentrated yet very balanced zin. Lots of tobacco, dark dark cherry notes, dusty cocoa, hint at a Cali Cab character; rich, fuller than the RR Zin, and concentrated fruit, but not sweet.Really superb with a long finish.
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3/23/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 84 Points
Still don't get this wine. More peppery than I remember and a very tough hot, acidic finish overpowereed the cherry fruit behind it. Color looked like pinot. I love their pinots. Am underwhelmed by their zins.
Didn't touch again until day three after being vaccum pumped. Vibbrant cherry fruit with better aciidty and a nice spicey,pepperiness. Add a few points for an 87. Note to self, decant for 6 hours next time.
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12/4/2009 - babnik wrote: 83 Points
I opened this to compare to a recent 2005 Papapietro Perry Pauline's Vineyard Zin which I wasn't too wild about.This wine was also a bit of a disappointment. Another Cellartracker TN said that they would have guessed this as a Pinot Noir. I was thinking the same thing! It possessed an overbearing stemmy green character that I associate with young Oregon and Burgundy. In Pinot, that's not a bad thing. It's a signal to hold, but I can't say where this Russian River Valley Zin is going. Additional flavors of Christmas fruitcake with sour cherries, pine needles, and a hint of sage. A hot nose that also shows some sulfur. Light in body and a rather thin mouthfeel. Hold? Hurry up and drink? I really couldn't say but since I have one bottle of the the Pauline's and one of the Elsbree left and they're obviously not wonderful now, I'll wait and see if a few years in the cellar rounds them out. Next time, I will also pair with a tomato sauce.
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11/15/2009 - underwds wrote: 87 Points
Mostly cherry fruit, but certainly lighter than a normal CA Zin. Not a lot of tannin either. Did have a fair amount of acidity. We had it with lasagna, and it made a good substitute for a light Italian red.
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8/27/2009 - rdsboca wrote: 86 Points
Would have guessed pinot when I pured it. Color is relatively light. Nose has some berry fruit but there is a funkiness that I would associate with Brett, almost like opening a syrah with green vegetal notes and some barnyard funk. Not quite sure if it is my stle of zin. Hoping it will open up. Tight sour cherry finish. Not a lot of structure to the wine. Kinda of like a bowl of unripe cherries.
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8/20/2009 - curtispomeroy wrote:
I am glad that I read other reviews before opening this wine because it allowed me to enjoy the uniqueness of the wine without worrying about the varietal "abuse". In general we liked it both with and without food. No score given as I am not sure what it was supposed to be.
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4/19/2009 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Winery: More forward; herbal-oregano notes; menthol, earthy, rich and extracted but sooo good.
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3/8/2009 - GZ3 wrote: 88 Points
Good with noticeable acids. blindfolded, i might have thought this a full bodied pinot.
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9/28/2008 - GZ3 wrote: 74 Points
strange bottle. smelled like it was still going through fermentation.
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8/24/2008 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Very unusual Zin.
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6/28/2008 - bilgepump100 wrote: 88 Points
This gets bonus points purely for the uniqueness of flavor. It's obvious that it's not a Dry Creek zin right away. The cherry flavors that hit your tongue makes you think pinot. Definitely Russian River fruit. Their was a nice hint of vanilla oak, smooth and gentle mid palate. The downside was a rush of kool-aid sugars on the finish that lingered too long on the tongue.
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5/11/2008 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($36) Napa-Noma, May 2008: I was told that the winery intentionally makes a light style of Zinfandel. In keeping with that comment, this wine is light in appearance, especially for Zin. Pinot Noir-like fruit. I consider this Zinfandel abuse.
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2/11/2008 - cadamson wrote: 84 Points
Good wine. Opened only because I saw the 74 points WS gave this wine -- since my other PP wines (all Pinots) were good, I had to check. I do not know what they were thinking in saying the flavors are dry and bitter. This is a very fruit filled wine, light/medium in body (almost a pinot texture), with dark red fruit, some cocoa, not hugely complex but very enjoyable. I certainly get very little bitterness (maybe a hint at the end). Not for long term, but good now. TWO HOURS LATEER: Okay, maybe JL is not that far off. With some air, this is getting quite dry at the finish. Lowering the score from 88 to 84. I like the lightness and fruit, but it does not do well with air, is tannic, dry and not real complex.
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1/25/2008 - brianmulk wrote: 89 Points
Better on 2nd night. Tannic, tight at first
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12/24/2007 - snaff wrote: 90 Points
Brilliant nose with raspberry, strawberry and forest floor. Rich blackberry and strawberry flavors in a lighter pinot style.
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