slow legs, dark red to black, cork broke (using a screw-type bottle opener), not yet over the hill but going in that direction; still drinkable but I definitely held it too long, mostly cellared at red-wine temperatures; it did improve somewhat after several days in the fridge
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Agree with previous notes. The tannins and fruit forwardness have faded, leaving a rich and full body. Almost 15% - goes down a bit hot after the wine starts warming in the glass, goes well with the Zin's spicy notes.
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So...I was wrong. This wine improved. It was absolutely delicious. Smooth, not big and fruity at all, but rich and tasty. This wine delivered and was very enjoyable. Not a big zin, but grew well, held well, drank phenomenally. I renounce what I said in my last notes. 2011 was a good year for this wine.
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Sad to see this go. Five of the six bottles scored in the 90-92 point range, including this one. The previous bottle must have been an off bottle because it was a step down. Maybe the timing was bad. In any event, popped and poured this. Very nice perfumed nose. Raspberry, nice allspice, pepper. Good fuirt on the palate. Nice spice, blue fruit and red fruit. Lush. Not overly dense. Finish is a bit delicate. There is some heat here, but everything is balanced.
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Lots of heat when first opened but mellowed very nicely after a 45 minute decanting. This paired extremely well with cheese and then a andouille, fennel and red bell pepper corn bread stuffing.
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I've thoroughly enjoyed this wine over the last several years, but maybe it is on the downside now. Way too much heat all around (for a wine that has a "high, but not overly so" posted alcohol of 14.8, this just seemed out of balance. The nice dense chocolcate covered fruit and spcie was there, and this still has a nice mouth feel but the alcohol seems to have risen up in revolt and is permeating too much. I'll drink my last bottle within 6 months.
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If you have it, drink it now. I was so disappointed that I held a bottle of 2000 and it was not what it probably would have been 3 years ago. Tasted this and 2000 at the same time. 2005 was probably ready last year. Still good, but not fantastic as it was last year. If you have it, finish it. Otherwise, you may throw it away. Don't hold this bottle just because you want to brag about how old it is. 2005 was, it seems, a great year for wine. For this Zin, the year was 2008. 2009 is over and I don't think 2010 will make it better. If I didn't already say it...drink it up!
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Medium dark color with clear ruby hue. Somewhat artificial fruit on the nose, mixed with subtle oak. On the palate this wine is stuck somewhere between a New World fruit-bomb and an Old World food wine. Upon P&P the wine is a little bland both on the front & the back ends, but with pretty nice acid & tannins in the middle. Came across a bit more New Worldly when paired with left-over asian food...Don't scoff, it worked. All told, not worth the price of admission. [14.8% abv.; $30.00].
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This is an excellent Zinfandel. Not too much. But powerful. Deep opaque color. Ripe nose of raspberry, cranberry, ripe cherries, sweet spice. A touch of heat, unfortunately. Palate has good acidity and deep lush fruit like good fruity pie filling. Terrific blend of fruit and a spice. A touch of heat faded a bit on the palate but did not go away completely as it affect the palate a bit. Overall, though, a very solid finish.
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Impressive example of Zinfandel, showing no signs of greenness, and remarkably, the alcohol is held in check. Lots of pepper and spice on the dark, brooding nose, with bright, black fruits, tantalizing the finish.
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Call this consistent -- consistently getting better as the year progressed. 3 bottles in 8 months. Quality wine. Deep deep blood red color. Ripe fruity nose of raspberry, cranberry, plum and a whiff of cinnamon. A swirl of the glass adds additional cherry, spice and a touch of cream. This wine fills the mouth incredibly well, with big fruit and a spice. A touch of hot alcohol slowly faded as the night wore on. This is a bit sweet on the attack into mid-palate, which detracts a bit. Maybe slightly overripe? Nice medium finish. Next time out, I may put this side by side the heralded Seghesio Zin. Very different styles. I may prefer this one.
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A lot to like about this wine. A cranberry deep red color. Nose has good spice and fruit. Thick and luscious mouth with blue and red fruit plus spice. Pepper and berries. Coats the mouth well. Balanced and delicious. A slight bit of alcohol on the nose and at the finish detracts from the score, but overall, Zins do not get much better.
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Nice luscious wine. Deep inky purple. Good structure. Nice mixture of berry fruit and spice on the nose. This had a jammy feel to it with lovely berries with good hints of white and black pepper. Nice finish. Nice bang for the buck at under $50. Potential to go as high as 92 or so, taking into accont the QPR.
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Dinner at the Palm. Very, very good. Fruity, not too sweet. Blackberries(?), dark cherries. Went nicely with NY strip. Wish I had taken real notes. Will definitely buy again, possibly a case.
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6/16/2016 - Glenn Gilbert wrote: flawed
slow legs, dark red to black, cork broke (using a screw-type bottle opener), not yet over the hill but going in that direction; still drinkable but I definitely held it too long, mostly cellared at red-wine temperatures; it did improve somewhat after several days in the fridge
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4/7/2012 - azwino wrote: 88 Points
Delicious, a hit hot, but will probably impove as it opens. Balanced, rich, muted fruit.
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7/17/2011 - azwino wrote: 90 Points
Agree with previous notes. The tannins and fruit forwardness have faded, leaving a rich and full body. Almost 15% - goes down a bit hot after the wine starts warming in the glass, goes well with the Zin's spicy notes.
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7/3/2011 - CasaHernandez wrote:
So...I was wrong. This wine improved. It was absolutely delicious. Smooth, not big and fruity at all, but rich and tasty. This wine delivered and was very enjoyable. Not a big zin, but grew well, held well, drank phenomenally. I renounce what I said in my last notes. 2011 was a good year for this wine.
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3/6/2011 - JohnJ wrote:
outstanding--long finish, still very berry refreshing, good texture
I want more
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2/6/2011 - jrobs7777 wrote: 91 Points
Sad to see this go. Five of the six bottles scored in the 90-92 point range, including this one. The previous bottle must have been an off bottle because it was a step down. Maybe the timing was bad. In any event, popped and poured this. Very nice perfumed nose. Raspberry, nice allspice, pepper. Good fuirt on the palate. Nice spice, blue fruit and red fruit. Lush. Not overly dense. Finish is a bit delicate. There is some heat here, but everything is balanced.
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11/14/2010 - BigBoy_Sonoma wrote: 89 Points
Smokey pepper, cherries, cocoa, and finishes with some smokey oak. This is a B+ wine.
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11/6/2010 - kbhiggins wrote: 91 Points
Lots of heat when first opened but mellowed very nicely after a 45 minute decanting. This paired extremely well with cheese and then a andouille, fennel and red bell pepper corn bread stuffing.
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5/3/2010 - jrobs7777 wrote: 86 Points
I've thoroughly enjoyed this wine over the last several years, but maybe it is on the downside now. Way too much heat all around (for a wine that has a "high, but not overly so" posted alcohol of 14.8, this just seemed out of balance. The nice dense chocolcate covered fruit and spcie was there, and this still has a nice mouth feel but the alcohol seems to have risen up in revolt and is permeating too much. I'll drink my last bottle within 6 months.
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12/26/2009 - CasaHernandez wrote:
If you have it, drink it now. I was so disappointed that I held a bottle of 2000 and it was not what it probably would have been 3 years ago. Tasted this and 2000 at the same time. 2005 was probably ready last year. Still good, but not fantastic as it was last year. If you have it, finish it. Otherwise, you may throw it away. Don't hold this bottle just because you want to brag about how old it is. 2005 was, it seems, a great year for wine. For this Zin, the year was 2008. 2009 is over and I don't think 2010 will make it better. If I didn't already say it...drink it up!
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8/22/2009 - Bacchant wrote: 89 Points
Medium dark color with clear ruby hue. Somewhat artificial fruit on the nose, mixed with subtle oak. On the palate this wine is stuck somewhere between a New World fruit-bomb and an Old World food wine. Upon P&P the wine is a little bland both on the front & the back ends, but with pretty nice acid & tannins in the middle. Came across a bit more New Worldly when paired with left-over asian food...Don't scoff, it worked. All told, not worth the price of admission. [14.8% abv.; $30.00].
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8/5/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: 92 Points
This is an excellent Zinfandel. Not too much. But powerful. Deep opaque color. Ripe nose of raspberry, cranberry, ripe cherries, sweet spice. A touch of heat, unfortunately. Palate has good acidity and deep lush fruit like good fruity pie filling. Terrific blend of fruit and a spice. A touch of heat faded a bit on the palate but did not go away completely as it affect the palate a bit. Overall, though, a very solid finish.
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2/19/2009 - Tom_B wrote: 91 Points
Impressive example of Zinfandel, showing no signs of greenness, and remarkably, the alcohol is held in check. Lots of pepper and spice on the dark, brooding nose, with bright, black fruits, tantalizing the finish.
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1/1/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: 92 Points
Call this consistent -- consistently getting better as the year progressed. 3 bottles in 8 months. Quality wine. Deep deep blood red color. Ripe fruity nose of raspberry, cranberry, plum and a whiff of cinnamon. A swirl of the glass adds additional cherry, spice and a touch of cream. This wine fills the mouth incredibly well, with big fruit and a spice. A touch of hot alcohol slowly faded as the night wore on. This is a bit sweet on the attack into mid-palate, which detracts a bit. Maybe slightly overripe? Nice medium finish. Next time out, I may put this side by side the heralded Seghesio Zin. Very different styles. I may prefer this one.
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8/24/2008 - jrobs7777 wrote: 91 Points
A lot to like about this wine. A cranberry deep red color. Nose has good spice and fruit. Thick and luscious mouth with blue and red fruit plus spice. Pepper and berries. Coats the mouth well. Balanced and delicious. A slight bit of alcohol on the nose and at the finish detracts from the score, but overall, Zins do not get much better.
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5/18/2008 - jrobs7777 wrote: 90 Points
Nice luscious wine. Deep inky purple. Good structure. Nice mixture of berry fruit and spice on the nose. This had a jammy feel to it with lovely berries with good hints of white and black pepper. Nice finish. Nice bang for the buck at under $50. Potential to go as high as 92 or so, taking into accont the QPR.
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3/13/2008 - yeshua wrote: 89 Points
Dinner at the Palm. Very, very good. Fruity, not too sweet. Blackberries(?), dark cherries. Went nicely with NY strip. Wish I had taken real notes. Will definitely buy again, possibly a case.
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