this was a force to be reckoned with, lots of terroir in the glass - woodsy, turned earth. dark fruit up front and lots of acidity on the back end. high qpr. great label on the bottle.
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Big, intense, spicey. Ready to drink with a minimal amout of air time. Not overly complex, but is fun to drink. Highly recommend. Glad I have more bottles.
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Dark ruby red. Intense red berries, violets, and vanilla on the nose. Blackberries, dark slightly tart cherries, oak, good acid, integrated tannins, and a medium finish. All nicely balanced and delicious.
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Straight out of the bottle, it is quite subtle, Give the glass a few swirls and take it in because the wine explodes with fruit. This is a dark medium bodied wine, with loads of light and dark fruit in the nose and palate. I took such a deep breath at one point that I got a little up my nose. I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle and would purchase it again.
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We've decided that Red Zeps are just a bit strange. Good-strange, like they're lookin' for rules to break, and are sneaking around to surprise you with something ... this here is one of those rabble rouser wines.
- The Screw Cap was in Good condition with a Metal disk seal. When we'd put the vacuum cork in it would push back out, like pressure was increasing from within ... spooky ~ - The wine is Ruby colored, with Medium legs. - It smells GREAT before and after aeration: before, I smell Burnt Sugar, Carmel, and Cherries and detected lots of interesting character, so I was looking forward to related interesting tanniny flavors; after Vinturi aeration smells moved to very Fresh Red Grapes, new Rubbery Running Shoes, Molasses, and Band Aids ... the smells kept surprising me. - Here's where it got strange: aeration, though improving it, had the inverse effect on tannins then we're used to. Pre-aeration: it was very shy, fruit-flat, and kind of watery, no tannins at all, somewhat uninteresting (and disappointing after the great smells) ... after swirling the glass a bit, it starting giving a slight bitter kick in the final 10% of a long finish. Post-Vinturi it opened up by expressing it's true tannins, so now it still starts fresh, but goes angular 20% in! From there it tastes of Band Aids, Cedar, and Black Cherry. - The body is Light all around and the wine is textured increasingly Angular, after starting Juicy. - The wine finishes Long ... so is this me, or related to the Taco Bell chicken quesadilla I ate before, but try this: drink the wine and taste it full mouth, then wait a minute and massage your mouth with your tongue ... I get brand new flavors of Fresh Green Grape Skins and Romain Lettuce. Isn't that odd?
I'm telling you, Zeps are weird ... but good!
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We've decided that Red Zeps are just a bit strange. Good-strange, like they're lookin' for rules to break, and are sneaking around to surprise you with something ... this here is one of those rabble rouser wines.
- The Screw Cap was in Good condition with a Metal disk seal. When we'd put the vacuum cork in it would push back out, like pressure was increasing from within ... spooky ~ - The wine is Ruby colored, with Medium legs. - It smells GREAT before and after aeration: before, I smell Burnt Sugar, Carmel, and Cherries and detected lots of interesting character, so I was looking forward to related interesting tanniny flavors; after Vinturi aeration smells moved to very Fresh Red Grapes, new Rubbery Running Shoes, Molasses, and Band Aids ... the smells kept surprising me. - Here's where it got surprising: aeration, though improving it, had the inverse effect on tannins then we're used to. Pre-aeration: it was very shy, fruit-flat, and kind of watery, no tannins at all, somewhat uninteresting (and disappointing after the great smells) ... after swirling the glass a bit, it starting giving a slight bitter kick in the final 10% of a long finish. Post-Vinturi it opened up by expressing it's true tannins, so now it still starts fresh, but goes angular 20% in!!! From there it tastes of Band Aids, Cedar, and Black Cherry. - The body is Light all around and the wine is textured increasingly Angular, after starting Juicy. - The wine finishes Long ... so is this me, or related to the Taco Bell chicken quesadilla I age before, but try this: drink the wine and taste it full mouth, then wait a minute and massage your mouth with your tongue ... I get brand new flavors of Fresh Green Grape Skins and Romain Lettuce. Isn't that odd?
I'm telling you, Zeps are weird ... but good!
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This was our second bottle of Red Zepp Vindication -- a great everyday type wine that has enough complexity and character to keep it interesting. Great nose, very fruity -- but when you drink it, there's a great balance of the tannins to keep it from seeming too fruity. Poured & served straight from bottle -- no decanting, no vinturi or over ambitious swirling -- other than looking at the nice purpley red color in the glass. There is a bit of heat on the back end, but again, it plays nicely with the fruit & tannin balance. No one characteristic or feature overshadows the other or over powers your senses. Enjoy!
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Dark red, purple fringes. Take a whiff, and it's a modestly fruity, strawberry, effort, with some wood chips. Give it a swirl and bury your nose in the glass and wet, woody strawberry/cherriness just drips, seriously drips, from the top of your nose to the bottom. I'm not usually a big fruit fan, but this is so concentrated, jammy and indulgent that I'm in love. Maintains the woodiness when tasted, and much of the fruit does go away. Dancingly light tannins and a short finish, but pleasant. It's all about the nose on this one.
I really panned a bottle of this a while ago, noting that I had let it decant for a while. Given the above, don't let it decant!
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Decanted for an hour and a half, which may explain: Nose is nice and rich, with some oaky fruit, overly ripe strawberries, very candied unless you swirl, and then you can pick up something other than simple fruit. Mouthfeel is silky smooth. Flavor profile borders on strawberry candy. There is no structure, it's liquid candy. Not for me at all. I can only hope that if you don't decant it as much, you are able to "benefit" from the higher alcohol and tannin contribution typically associated with pop n pours.
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9/20/2020 - rjquillin Likes this wine:
twisty purchased in '11, and at 14.1% quiet reserved for Swilly. One more but I'd gladly accept additional.
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2/25/2013 - K is for Kate Likes this wine:
I preferred this to the 2 Cameron Huges releases of the former Havens Black & Blue. Lovely fresh acidity and much lighter on the oak. Delicious.
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7/5/2012 - foobarski wrote: 89 Points
Kind of brambly nose, lots of big dark cherry taste. Delicious.
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2/19/2012 - dukefirst wrote: 88 Points
this was a force to be reckoned with, lots of terroir in the glass - woodsy, turned earth. dark fruit up front and lots of acidity on the back end. high qpr. great label on the bottle.
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12/8/2011 - costacasa wrote: 89 Points
Big, intense, spicey. Ready to drink with a minimal amout of air time. Not overly complex, but is fun to drink. Highly recommend. Glad I have more bottles.
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9/22/2011 - foobarski wrote: 89 Points
Bright and powerful.
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7/10/2010 - merryberry wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby red. Intense red berries, violets, and vanilla on the nose. Blackberries, dark slightly tart cherries, oak, good acid, integrated tannins, and a medium finish. All nicely balanced and delicious.
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5/9/2010 - vegaswino wrote: 90 Points
Excellent.
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4/17/2010 - TottenCellars wrote:
Straight out of the bottle, it is quite subtle, Give the glass a few swirls and take it in because the wine explodes with fruit.
This is a dark medium bodied wine, with loads of light and dark fruit in the nose and palate.
I took such a deep breath at one point that I got a little up my nose.
I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle and would purchase it again.
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4/16/2010 - taucellar wrote:
We've decided that Red Zeps are just a bit strange. Good-strange, like they're lookin' for rules to break, and are sneaking around to surprise you with something ... this here is one of those rabble rouser wines.
- The Screw Cap was in Good condition with a Metal disk seal. When we'd put the vacuum cork in it would push back out, like pressure was increasing from within ... spooky ~
- The wine is Ruby colored, with Medium legs.
- It smells GREAT before and after aeration: before, I smell Burnt Sugar, Carmel, and Cherries and detected lots of interesting character, so I was looking forward to related interesting tanniny flavors; after Vinturi aeration smells moved to very Fresh Red Grapes, new Rubbery Running Shoes, Molasses, and Band Aids ... the smells kept surprising me.
- Here's where it got strange: aeration, though improving it, had the inverse effect on tannins then we're used to. Pre-aeration: it was very shy, fruit-flat, and kind of watery, no tannins at all, somewhat uninteresting (and disappointing after the great smells) ... after swirling the glass a bit, it starting giving a slight bitter kick in the final 10% of a long finish. Post-Vinturi it opened up by expressing it's true tannins, so now it still starts fresh, but goes angular 20% in! From there it tastes of Band Aids, Cedar, and Black Cherry.
- The body is Light all around and the wine is textured increasingly Angular, after starting Juicy.
- The wine finishes Long ... so is this me, or related to the Taco Bell chicken quesadilla I ate before, but try this: drink the wine and taste it full mouth, then wait a minute and massage your mouth with your tongue ... I get brand new flavors of Fresh Green Grape Skins and Romain Lettuce. Isn't that odd?
I'm telling you, Zeps are weird ... but good!
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4/16/2010 - taucellar wrote: 88 Points
We've decided that Red Zeps are just a bit strange. Good-strange, like they're lookin' for rules to break, and are sneaking around to surprise you with something ... this here is one of those rabble rouser wines.
- The Screw Cap was in Good condition with a Metal disk seal. When we'd put the vacuum cork in it would push back out, like pressure was increasing from within ... spooky ~
- The wine is Ruby colored, with Medium legs.
- It smells GREAT before and after aeration: before, I smell Burnt Sugar, Carmel, and Cherries and detected lots of interesting character, so I was looking forward to related interesting tanniny flavors; after Vinturi aeration smells moved to very Fresh Red Grapes, new Rubbery Running Shoes, Molasses, and Band Aids ... the smells kept surprising me.
- Here's where it got surprising: aeration, though improving it, had the inverse effect on tannins then we're used to. Pre-aeration: it was very shy, fruit-flat, and kind of watery, no tannins at all, somewhat uninteresting (and disappointing after the great smells) ... after swirling the glass a bit, it starting giving a slight bitter kick in the final 10% of a long finish. Post-Vinturi it opened up by expressing it's true tannins, so now it still starts fresh, but goes angular 20% in!!! From there it tastes of Band Aids, Cedar, and Black Cherry.
- The body is Light all around and the wine is textured increasingly Angular, after starting Juicy.
- The wine finishes Long ... so is this me, or related to the Taco Bell chicken quesadilla I age before, but try this: drink the wine and taste it full mouth, then wait a minute and massage your mouth with your tongue ... I get brand new flavors of Fresh Green Grape Skins and Romain Lettuce. Isn't that odd?
I'm telling you, Zeps are weird ... but good!
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3/29/2010 - rmm wrote: 86 Points
High QPR like all the Zeppelin wines, very good. Balanced fruit/oak, and a lively acidity
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3/17/2010 - StarM Likes this wine: 87 Points
This was our second bottle of Red Zepp Vindication -- a great everyday type wine that has enough complexity and character to keep it interesting. Great nose, very fruity -- but when you drink it, there's a great balance of the tannins to keep it from seeming too fruity. Poured & served straight from bottle -- no decanting, no vinturi or over ambitious swirling -- other than looking at the nice purpley red color in the glass. There is a bit of heat on the back end, but again, it plays nicely with the fruit & tannin balance. No one characteristic or feature overshadows the other or over powers your senses. Enjoy!
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3/13/2010 - BATWine wrote: 85 Points
Cherry cola flavors on the nose and in the wine. A little sweet with lots of tannins.
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3/5/2010 - houtx wrote: 84 Points
Dark red, purple fringes. Take a whiff, and it's a modestly fruity, strawberry, effort, with some wood chips. Give it a swirl and bury your nose in the glass and wet, woody strawberry/cherriness just drips, seriously drips, from the top of your nose to the bottom. I'm not usually a big fruit fan, but this is so concentrated, jammy and indulgent that I'm in love. Maintains the woodiness when tasted, and much of the fruit does go away. Dancingly light tannins and a short finish, but pleasant. It's all about the nose on this one.
I really panned a bottle of this a while ago, noting that I had let it decant for a while. Given the above, don't let it decant!
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2/13/2010 - houtx wrote:
Decanted for an hour and a half, which may explain:
Nose is nice and rich, with some oaky fruit, overly ripe strawberries, very candied unless you swirl, and then you can pick up something other than simple fruit. Mouthfeel is silky smooth. Flavor profile borders on strawberry candy. There is no structure, it's liquid candy. Not for me at all. I can only hope that if you don't decant it as much, you are able to "benefit" from the higher alcohol and tannin contribution typically associated with pop n pours.
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1/28/2010 - cmkjbs wrote: 87 Points
Smooth, fruity. Blackberries.
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1/26/2010 - StarM wrote: 86 Points
Drank well from the pop & pour -- got better the second glass --- No decanting or Vinturi. Aerated well out of the bottle.
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