An enticing nose of chocolate, smoke and blackberries grabs your attention initially, when a glass of the Mettler Epicenter Zinfandel is poured. The rich and powerful nose is sharply focused, and the medium plus body has a dark violet hue. Deep tastes of blackberry liqueur and black currant are carried on a nicely structured frame. There's nice viscosity and mouth feel with this wine, and it is highly extracted and over the top. There's no subtlety here, just powerful and direct. The finish just hangs in there with tremendous length of rich blackberry. Last bottle, enjoying it over two evenings. For $12 a bottle, it was a great deal.
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Super, deep black color in glass with thin cherry rims. Lovely, intense bouquet. Tremendous weight and chocolatey fruit on palate totally supporting 15.6% alcohol. Lots of Zin character but not really an overripe fruit bomb. Close to peak but should hold for a number of years. Words that come to mind when experiencing this wine are "authority" and "monolithic". No sediment or tartaric crystals evident but give it time. A really great Zin for the money ($18.99). Buy more!
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The Mettler Epicenter Zinfandel has evolved and matured to a much greater degree than I would have expected. The development has really sharpened the focus on the wine and the tannins have mellowed to a pleasing degree. A deep garnet wine with a medium body. An alluring nose of licorice, leather, blackberries and some earth. Soft and silky smooth, really opulent for a wine in this price range with polished and focused tastes of licorice, leather, blackberry and black cherry. The finish fades slowly away with more of the same and adding a candied orange note at the end.
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The Epicenter Zinfandel is a deep garnet wine with a medium plus body. Aromas of blackberry, black pepper and a little earth. In the mouth the wine has a decent heft to the viscosity making it seem full, round and very soft. Tastes of blackberry pie, plum and a slight oakiness. The depth of blackberry is huge, in the fruit bomb category for some, but has the richness that only old vines seem to deliver. The finish lingers very nicely with lots of blackberry and the tannins are mouth-coating at this stage, but do little to blunt the taste. Powerful with plenty of life left. Most either love or hate this type of wine.
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on the nose i picked up a little too much oak and heat for my taste. the dark plum and cherry fruit was nice and there was some dark chocolate mocha hints. on the palate there was some nice black cherry chocolate licorice with some noticeable oak that un balanced the wine a little. on the back end the heat was there but as it sat in the glass the wine blossomed and turned out to be quite balanced and enjoyable.
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Excellent Zin - would love to know where the reviewer got it for $10-15 though! I paid around $21 at the local wine shop and will definitely buy again. Agree that it's a little tight when opened, but after 30 minutes in the decanter was already a smooth, rich zin - not jammy but a great blend of zin spice and fruit. Completely enjoyed this one.
The Mettler Epicenter is a deep garnet wine with a medium body. The nose has earth, licorice and hints of oak. Very nicely smooth in the mouth, with a thick, opulent texture. Tastes of blackberry, plum, pepper and more hints of oak. Add a little smoky black currant to the mix mid-palate. The finish has medium-long length with blackberry, black currant and licorice braced with hints of oak and bitter chocolate. Good balance overall, and a steal at the $10-$15 price point. Wish I had more.
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This is a wine that gets your attention. A nose of cherries and licorice lead off for this ruby wine. Silky smooth in the mouth with tastes of cherries, licorice and red raspberry on a medium body. The finish is med-long with soft cherry and loads of licorice. Epicenter indeed.
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Very tight upon opening. Slightly gritty. After sitting for a while, it completely opened up into a smoke filled bowl of spice and fruit. Enjoy with a steak or by itself.
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6/20/2021 - Davidalan wrote: 85 Points
Probably way past it’s prime but decent. I note smoke and berries. Tannins are virtually gone.
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5/10/2012 - The Kokopelli wrote: 91 Points
An enticing nose of chocolate, smoke and blackberries grabs your attention initially, when a glass of the Mettler Epicenter Zinfandel is poured. The rich and powerful nose is sharply focused, and the medium plus body has a dark violet hue. Deep tastes of blackberry liqueur and black currant are carried on a nicely structured frame. There's nice viscosity and mouth feel with this wine, and it is highly extracted and over the top. There's no subtlety here, just powerful and direct. The finish just hangs in there with tremendous length of rich blackberry. Last bottle, enjoying it over two evenings. For $12 a bottle, it was a great deal.
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4/28/2012 - 41hijinx wrote: 92 Points
Super, deep black color in glass with thin cherry rims. Lovely, intense bouquet. Tremendous weight and chocolatey fruit on palate totally supporting 15.6% alcohol. Lots of Zin character but not really an overripe fruit bomb. Close to peak but should hold for a number of years. Words that come to mind when experiencing this wine are "authority" and "monolithic". No sediment or tartaric crystals evident but give it time. A really great Zin for the money ($18.99). Buy more!
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2/29/2012 - The Kokopelli wrote: 92 Points
The Mettler Epicenter Zinfandel has evolved and matured to a much greater degree than I would have expected. The development has really sharpened the focus on the wine and the tannins have mellowed to a pleasing degree. A deep garnet wine with a medium body. An alluring nose of licorice, leather, blackberries and some earth. Soft and silky smooth, really opulent for a wine in this price range with polished and focused tastes of licorice, leather, blackberry and black cherry. The finish fades slowly away with more of the same and adding a candied orange note at the end.
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2/3/2011 - The Kokopelli wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous notes. This continues to impress in the big fruit bomb category with little complexity, bit it is very good at what it is.
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1/30/2011 - The Kokopelli wrote: 90 Points
The Epicenter Zinfandel is a deep garnet wine with a medium plus body. Aromas of blackberry, black pepper and a little earth. In the mouth the wine has a decent heft to the viscosity making it seem full, round and very soft. Tastes of blackberry pie, plum and a slight oakiness. The depth of blackberry is huge, in the fruit bomb category for some, but has the richness that only old vines seem to deliver. The finish lingers very nicely with lots of blackberry and the tannins are mouth-coating at this stage, but do little to blunt the taste. Powerful with plenty of life left. Most either love or hate this type of wine.
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1/29/2011 - Briangray77 wrote: 90 Points
on the nose i picked up a little too much oak and heat for my taste. the dark plum and cherry fruit was nice and there was some dark chocolate mocha hints. on the palate there was some nice black cherry chocolate licorice with some noticeable oak that un balanced the wine a little. on the back end the heat was there but as it sat in the glass the wine blossomed and turned out to be quite balanced and enjoyable.
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1/15/2011 - Jcwelchfl wrote: 91 Points
Excellent Zin - would love to know where the reviewer got it for $10-15 though! I paid around $21 at the local wine shop and will definitely buy again. Agree that it's a little tight when opened, but after 30 minutes in the decanter was already a smooth, rich zin - not jammy but a great blend of zin spice and fruit. Completely enjoyed this one.
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10/20/2010 - The Kokopelli wrote: 90 Points
The Mettler Epicenter is a deep garnet wine with a medium body. The nose has earth, licorice and hints of oak. Very nicely smooth in the mouth, with a thick, opulent texture. Tastes of blackberry, plum, pepper and more hints of oak. Add a little smoky black currant to the mix mid-palate. The finish has medium-long length with blackberry, black currant and licorice braced with hints of oak and bitter chocolate. Good balance overall, and a steal at the $10-$15 price point. Wish I had more.
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8/17/2010 - The Kokopelli wrote: 91 Points
Nose is rich and forward. Nice balance. Consistent with my previous note. Amazing the depth that the old vines can provide.
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7/25/2010 - rpenn77 wrote: 93 Points
Creamy soft tannins, rich dark fruit flavors.
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7/17/2010 - The Kokopelli wrote: 90 Points
This is a wine that gets your attention. A nose of cherries and licorice lead off for this ruby wine. Silky smooth in the mouth with tastes of cherries, licorice and red raspberry on a medium body. The finish is med-long with soft cherry and loads of licorice. Epicenter indeed.
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11/17/2009 - Dave124 wrote: 88 Points
Very tight upon opening. Slightly gritty. After sitting for a while, it completely opened up into a smoke filled bowl of spice and fruit. Enjoy with a steak or by itself.
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