Garnet appearance. Restrained nose of black fruit, dark berries, vanilla, gravel, and oak spice. Full bodied, oddly tannic, and dry. Its ripe black fruit, grip and minerality, which stretches out through the finish, can't make up for its alcoholic persistence (15.5%). Feels like this wine is in purgatory.
Paired with spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with fresh basil and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio.
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Drinking very well. This is the right age, now on the 5th bottle. Wish I had waited on all of them until now. I get strong vanilla and ripe berries on the nose. The palate is berries, cream or butter, and some hints of graphite on the finish. Well balanced with light to moderate tanins. Drinks well in its price range.
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A decent wine, nothing to get too excited about, did not live up to my recollection of past bottle. it had a rather unpleasant viscosity to it when first opened, seemed to get better with time.
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Decanted 1 hr. ahead. Medium garnet color. Simple nose of plums, carbon, oak. Nice acid balance but simple flavors on the palate. Quick, tannin-free finish. I would call this a good wine to serve to folks who don't know much about wine. It's not by any means bad; it's just simple.
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We had bought this bottle at a local grocery store (Publix) because it was on a two-for-one sale, bringing the price per bottle down to $10. We've also been to the St. Francis winery in Sonoma previously and had the chance to taste a wide variety of their local-only Zin releases (which were mostly exceptional). So, we were pretty sure this one would be at least decent if not outstanding. What a surprise, they sent out some very good stuff to the national market. The real shock for me, though, was that we let the last third of the bottle sit for nearly a week before opening it again, expecting nothing but vinegar; surprise number two, it was still in good shape. Had never seen an open red last a week without going bad before. I'm guessing the 15% alcohol had something to do with it? Anyway, for this price, a real winner.
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Slightly buttery, smooth. Very long finish. Very ripe, overripe berries, maybe slightly jammy. A nice wine with slightly to moderately spicy foods. NJ Big Chris' comments are dead on.
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Popped and Drank Immediately. Nice color. Hints of brown in the dark ruby red. Oak and strong red fruit smell w/ some chalkiness/creaminess on the nose. Alcohol just a hair strong on the nose. Pretty strong Oaky flavors but the tannins are relatively mild considering. Not enough fruit to keep me happy though. Alcohol comes on a bit strong on the back end for me. This wine is OK. its not bad by any means its just not my cup of tea... - Let it breathe for about 30 min and retasted. Definately softened up the heat a lil but not much. didn't bring out any fruit really either.
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Jammy nose of stewed fruit. Intense, full-bodied, ripe fruit, and vanilla throughout. Oddly tannic for a zinfandel. Lots of heat. Maybe needs time to work itself out.
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Better than I thought it was going to be. Paired nicely with a spicy glazed pork tenderloin. Very jammy. Better with food than on its own. Would drink again at this price point.
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Highly unimpressed. This bottle has been through the paces (long story) so I may chalk it up to that. Thin, way past peak, bitter. I'm not going to rate.
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Not loving this Zin...It's not bad, but it was kind of generic. Yes, there was some jamminess with a little spice and smooth tannins. But this one was a little flat and one dimensional although there was a hint of tobacco on the finish.
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ruby wine with a medium body. Nose of vanilla, cedar, oak and a hint of tar. Tastes of black cherry, plum and oak. The finish is hot with plum, vanilla and oak. Tannins are still thick and mouth-coating.
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Love great zinfandel. Loads of alcohol, stewed fruits, spice, slightly jammy, but one of the few wines that is able to get away with all the excess. Lots of rough edges, but its rusticity is authentic. Not for the faint of palate, but a very satisfying wine if you are a fan. Drink now-2012. Food pairing: Pepper steak
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Not the St. Francis I recall from '04 and '05. Medium bodied, simple fruit, not much spice or complexity. Somewhat disappointing, I will not be stocking up on this @ $16.00
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nose: cherry and oak; taste: mouthfeel - full taste of fruit jam, mid-palate - plum; finish - smooth, round cocoa, little spice or tannin evident; overall: tasty, coherent, and easy-to-drink package, well-priced at $14 (on sale at Morris Miller in NW DC) and worth buying again, seems like it would be a good pairing for the Thanksgiving table.
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popped and let sit for about 30 minutes, ran first few glass through the vinturi. On the nose there was cherries and cedar, On the palate there are spicy cherries, some herbs, but more Oak than prior bottle. A simple weeknight Zin, not too complex, but definitely a nice easy drinker.
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Boerne Wine Club - Syrah and Zinfandel (Scenic Loop Cafe): Strong vanilla, cedar, and oak on the nose. Palate adds some black cherry and plum, with a strong oak finish. The oak was quite prominent, but was still an easy drinking enjoyable red. Given the stiff competition, seemed simple, but was probably the context rather than a poorly made wine. 86 My #15 Group #13 (tie, no votes)
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decanted for about 30 minutes before first glass. Light color for a zin is the first thing that stands out to me. On the nose some cherries and a bit of herbs. On the palate the wine is very easy drinking, the acidity is nice, and the tannins are in check. A bit of vanilla, spicy cherries and some herbs are present but not overbearing.
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We ordered this off the wine list at Hawkshead Restaurant in South Haven, MI. A full bodied wine with a deep red color. Aromas of evergreen which followed through onto the palate. Notes of currant and oak. 88 points.
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12/26/2012 - patent_atty wrote: 86 Points
Perfect for drinking now. Very good but not great. Typical zin profile.
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12/13/2012 - Baron Slick wrote: 85 Points
Garnet appearance. Restrained nose of black fruit, dark berries, vanilla, gravel, and oak spice. Full bodied, oddly tannic, and dry. Its ripe black fruit, grip and minerality, which stretches out through the finish, can't make up for its alcoholic persistence (15.5%). Feels like this wine is in purgatory.
Paired with spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with fresh basil and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio.
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10/3/2012 - malibu_bay wrote: 81 Points
Maybe didn't age well?
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7/6/2012 - nogardtla wrote:
Very floral, slight vanilla. Bit strong on alcohol, let breathe for an hour or so before drinking.
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5/23/2012 - kmicho Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drinking very well. This is the right age, now on the 5th bottle. Wish I had waited on all of them until now. I get strong vanilla and ripe berries on the nose. The palate is berries, cream or butter, and some hints of graphite on the finish. Well balanced with light to moderate tanins. Drinks well in its price range.
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5/12/2012 - 10izguy wrote:
A decent wine, nothing to get too excited about, did not live up to my recollection of past bottle. it had a rather unpleasant viscosity to it when first opened, seemed to get better with time.
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1/21/2012 - whineoh3 wrote: 91 Points
Slightly buttery, smooth. Very long finish. Very ripe, overripe berries, maybe slightly jammy. A nice wine with slightly to moderately spicy foods
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8/17/2011 - VeniceCalif wrote: 84 Points
Decanted 1 hr. ahead. Medium garnet color. Simple nose of plums, carbon, oak. Nice acid balance but simple flavors on the palate. Quick, tannin-free finish. I would call this a good wine to serve to folks who don't know much about wine. It's not by any means bad; it's just simple.
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5/1/2011 - 10izguy wrote:
this was awesome, so glad that i have another bottle, went very well with steak on barbeque
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3/20/2011 - Terramare wrote: 87 Points
We had bought this bottle at a local grocery store (Publix) because it was on a two-for-one sale, bringing the price per bottle down to $10. We've also been to the St. Francis winery in Sonoma previously and had the chance to taste a wide variety of their local-only Zin releases (which were mostly exceptional). So, we were pretty sure this one would be at least decent if not outstanding. What a surprise, they sent out some very good stuff to the national market. The real shock for me, though, was that we let the last third of the bottle sit for nearly a week before opening it again, expecting nothing but vinegar; surprise number two, it was still in good shape. Had never seen an open red last a week without going bad before. I'm guessing the 15% alcohol had something to do with it? Anyway, for this price, a real winner.
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1/17/2011 - kmicho wrote: 86 Points
Slightly buttery, smooth. Very long finish. Very ripe, overripe berries, maybe slightly jammy. A nice wine with slightly to moderately spicy foods. NJ Big Chris' comments are dead on.
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12/2/2010 - NJ BIG CHRIS wrote: 85 Points
Popped and Drank Immediately. Nice color. Hints of brown in the dark ruby red. Oak and strong red fruit smell w/ some chalkiness/creaminess on the nose. Alcohol just a hair strong on the nose. Pretty strong Oaky flavors but the tannins are relatively mild considering. Not enough fruit to keep me happy though. Alcohol comes on a bit strong on the back end for me. This wine is OK. its not bad by any means its just not my cup of tea... - Let it breathe for about 30 min and retasted. Definately softened up the heat a lil but not much. didn't bring out any fruit really either.
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11/14/2010 - wbaccus wrote: 88 Points
The wife enjoyed this one more that I did. Rich ruby colors, something was not right on the finish for me, bit like a stale cold, coffee.
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10/7/2010 - dangdad wrote: 82 Points
Classic Zin, full bodied, great color, black currant up front, modelst tannins, long finish
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9/14/2010 - Baron Slick wrote: 84 Points
Jammy nose of stewed fruit. Intense, full-bodied, ripe fruit, and vanilla throughout. Oddly tannic for a zinfandel. Lots of heat. Maybe needs time to work itself out.
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8/29/2010 - davefolz wrote: 88 Points
very good zin for the price
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7/19/2010 - kbhiggins wrote: 86 Points
Better than I thought it was going to be. Paired nicely with a spicy glazed pork tenderloin. Very jammy. Better with food than on its own. Would drink again at this price point.
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7/15/2010 - jeffal66 wrote:
Highly unimpressed. This bottle has been through the paces (long story) so I may chalk it up to that. Thin, way past peak, bitter. I'm not going to rate.
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5/31/2010 - wbaccus wrote: 88 Points
Buttery at first, but it turns into butterscotch. This one is a thick wine dark red. Finishes with a coffee flavor.
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4/24/2010 - cnr128 wrote: 83 Points
Not loving this Zin...It's not bad, but it was kind of generic. Yes, there was some jamminess with a little spice and smooth tannins. But this one was a little flat and one dimensional although there was a hint of tobacco on the finish.
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3/26/2010 - The Kokopelli wrote: 84 Points
ruby wine with a medium body. Nose of vanilla, cedar, oak and a hint of tar. Tastes of black cherry, plum and oak. The finish is hot with plum, vanilla and oak. Tannins are still thick and mouth-coating.
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2/26/2010 - philhamelin wrote:
Love great zinfandel. Loads of alcohol, stewed fruits, spice, slightly jammy, but one of the few wines that is able to get away with all the excess. Lots of rough edges, but its rusticity is authentic. Not for the faint of palate, but a very satisfying wine if you are a fan. Drink now-2012. Food pairing: Pepper steak
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1/13/2010 - Thom wrote: 86 Points
Not the St. Francis I recall from '04 and '05. Medium bodied, simple fruit, not much spice or complexity. Somewhat disappointing, I will not be stocking up on this @ $16.00
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1/6/2010 - Weston3220 wrote: 91 Points
Trialto Trade Tasting (Cibo Restaurant at the Moda Hotel [Vancouver, Canada]): A: Nice Nose, Big intensity, good big fruit but not a fruit bomb.
T: Good Candied Fruit [controlled], Spice, Licorice the really good expensive stuff, Sweet Blackstrap Molasses
Conc: This was good I mean this was a big wine I don't know if I could drink more then two glasses but it was pretty good
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12/5/2009 - ruwining09 wrote: 89 Points
just opened and decantered for 30 min. Had great aroma of cherry and oak with slight pepper taste. Great wine
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11/15/2009 - Epic Tale wrote: 88 Points
nose: cherry and oak; taste: mouthfeel - full taste of fruit jam, mid-palate - plum; finish - smooth, round cocoa, little spice or tannin evident; overall: tasty, coherent, and easy-to-drink package, well-priced at $14 (on sale at Morris Miller in NW DC) and worth buying again, seems like it would be a good pairing for the Thanksgiving table.
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11/8/2009 - talesofthegrape wrote:
Dark reddish purple color with jammy flavors of black cherries and blackberries. Lots of peppery spice and tannins.
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11/1/2009 - Zinlady wrote: 86 Points
Some briary berryness but too thin.
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10/28/2009 - shank wrote: 86 Points
Opened and ran through vin. and sat for 1 hr. Similiar notes with prior author's, red cherry and cedar.
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10/8/2009 - robnmo wrote: 86 Points
popped and let sit for about 30 minutes, ran first few glass through the vinturi. On the nose there was cherries and cedar, On the palate there are spicy cherries, some herbs, but more Oak than prior bottle. A simple weeknight Zin, not too complex, but definitely a nice easy drinker.
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10/4/2009 - Nutty08 wrote: 86 Points
Boerne Wine Club - Syrah and Zinfandel (Scenic Loop Cafe): Strong vanilla, cedar, and oak on the nose. Palate adds some black cherry and plum, with a strong oak finish. The oak was quite prominent, but was still an easy drinking enjoyable red. Given the stiff competition, seemed simple, but was probably the context rather than a poorly made wine. 86 My #15 Group #13 (tie, no votes)
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8/16/2009 - jwells wrote: 86 Points
Good Zin, about right for the price. Dark red color and medium body. Berry flavors with notes of vanilla on a hot, long finish.
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7/8/2009 - robnmo wrote: 87 Points
decanted for about 30 minutes before first glass. Light color for a zin is the first thing that stands out to me. On the nose some cherries and a bit of herbs. On the palate the wine is very easy drinking, the acidity is nice, and the tannins are in check. A bit of vanilla, spicy cherries and some herbs are present but not overbearing.
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6/30/2009 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
We ordered this off the wine list at Hawkshead Restaurant in South Haven, MI. A full bodied wine with a deep red color. Aromas of evergreen which followed through onto the palate. Notes of currant and oak. 88 points.
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4/18/2009 - HarryBK wrote:
Very easy to drink
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4/8/2009 - hutch wrote: 88 Points
Wine Marketing Tasting (Newport): Ripe, berried zin. Good.
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