Sad to see this go since the winery is no longer. Excellent QPR. Still holding up but need to drink. Brick red with brown rim. Full easy going red fruit with moderate alcohol and relaxed tannins. Great food wine.
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PnP. Some sediments, deep dark purple color. Med nose intensity. Softer and more fruit than spice Zin. Run of mill of wine, slightly harsh but nothing really off. Would likely have been better w/some air time. Pulled it last minute as our gang drank more than I planned for. Drink now.
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Dilute cranberry juice and wheat germ in the nose. Not too fragrant. Extraordinarily healthy tasting, fresh, clean, tart but definitely not offensively so. More cranberry, quite juicy and easygoing, bright and whole despite a relative lack of complexity.
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I think you have to rate this for what it is: a relatively cheap, simple, everyday kind of zin. It's jammy and rich and enjoyable. Nothing special but I would buy this again for a weeknight meal.
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Decant Time - Bottle Open 30 Min The nose is heavy with berry jams, a little barnyard, and abundant alcohol. On the palate the front end shows over the top, candy-like, sweet red and dark fruits, that (although tasty) are too cloying to be enjoyable. The fruit falls off quickly to a midpalate of weak peppery spice, which then abruptly transitions to a short finish of bitter tannins dominated by alcohol. The wine is medium in body with simplistic structure and divisive transitions. This wine simply lacks the balance to fit our palates. If you are into this over the top style of wine, however, it may fit yours.
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A Personal Visit to Sausal Winery 1/27/2011: This is one of those wineries whose entry level estate Zinfandel is made from 50 year old vines. They have other estate Zinfandel vines up to 130 years old. This is a family winery that has long been a favorite of myself, my family, and a very diverse number of friends. This estate is right in the middle of Cabernet country in Alexander Valley. I suspect if they were planting today, Cabernet would be by far the majority of their plantings. As it is, we, the public get to really enjoy some well made, very ripe, but still balanced and civilized Zinfandels. This one is a pretty good balance of that concentrated old vine intensity, and bright, pure dark brambly fruit. Pretty heavy in the mouth for a Zin, possibly from the influence of oak. Layered blackberry, cherry, and red raspberry fruit. Nice alcohol integration, which may be helped by the couple of years in the bottle. Typical, long,fruity Zinfandel finish.
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A nose of black cherry and some spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied Zin, black cherry, licorice, with spice, a bit hot and a bit uneven, just ok.
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I'm finding more balance of fruit with spice and smooth tannins than other reviewers, especially after two hours of air. Not jammy at all to my palate. Fine value.
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I've never had a wine change so much overnight. After I opened the bottle and decanted it for an hour or two it was all heat and no fruit. I would've ranked it in the very low 70's. I left the bottle open for two days and what a difference. Pear on the nose and strawberry on the palate with a medium finish. I've definitely learned a lesson here.
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Offers both style and structure, with lively aromas of black raspberry, cracked pepper and mocha that lead to plush, layered flavors of earth and fresh sage.
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aromatic nose with black cherry, earth, and a jammy sensation. Color is dark red, almost purple, clear. ON the palate there are flavors of dark cherry, tobacco, a hint of chocolate. This is not a very complex wine, but really delicious, with a long, wonderful finish. A simple but classic zin, recommend it.
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4/20/2014 - jfarley3 wrote: 91 Points
Sad to see this go since the winery is no longer. Excellent QPR. Still holding up but need to drink. Brick red with brown rim. Full easy going red fruit with moderate alcohol and relaxed tannins. Great food wine.
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1/7/2013 - Dodger blue wrote: 89 Points
Nice tart zin. Great buy for the price. Not too jammy, but the fruit came on more as it opened up.
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5/18/2012 - Barry Notes wrote: 83 Points
PnP. Some sediments, deep dark purple color. Med nose intensity. Softer and more fruit than spice Zin. Run of mill of wine, slightly harsh but nothing really off. Would likely have been better w/some air time. Pulled it last minute as our gang drank more than I planned for. Drink now.
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7/16/2011 - crux wrote: 90 Points
Dilute cranberry juice and wheat germ in the nose. Not too fragrant. Extraordinarily healthy tasting, fresh, clean, tart but definitely not offensively so. More cranberry, quite juicy and easygoing, bright and whole despite a relative lack of complexity.
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5/26/2011 - gromi Likes this wine: 89 Points
very nice
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3/19/2011 - mclgreenville wrote: 88 Points
Fairly simple wine but ohhhhhh my. Raspberries for days. Love it!
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3/15/2011 - Geoff Weathersby wrote: 86 Points
Easy drinking Zin. Good QPR
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3/15/2011 - VanVino Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fruit forward, smooth tannins, and some nice spice on the finish. What more can you ask for in an Zin?
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2/24/2011 - PeteNJ75 wrote: 89 Points
I think you have to rate this for what it is: a relatively cheap, simple, everyday kind of zin. It's jammy and rich and enjoyable. Nothing special but I would buy this again for a weeknight meal.
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2/23/2011 - bowmanbc wrote: 88 Points
same as before
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2/15/2011 - bowmanbc wrote: 88 Points
pretty standard stuff
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2/3/2011 - jeremy_ross wrote: 87 Points
Red fruit, menthol on nose. Dried cherries, smoke, medium body. Finishes w/ tart cherries.
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2/1/2011 - Rob and Meg wrote: 82 Points
Decant Time - Bottle Open 30 Min
The nose is heavy with berry jams, a little barnyard, and abundant alcohol. On the palate the front end shows over the top, candy-like, sweet red and dark fruits, that (although tasty) are too cloying to be enjoyable. The fruit falls off quickly to a midpalate of weak peppery spice, which then abruptly transitions to a short finish of bitter tannins dominated by alcohol. The wine is medium in body with simplistic structure and divisive transitions. This wine simply lacks the balance to fit our palates. If you are into this over the top style of wine, however, it may fit yours.
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1/29/2011 - jrwhitney6 wrote: 85 Points
purple color. jammy feel - some spice. Good, even if somewhat simple.
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1/27/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 89 Points
A Personal Visit to Sausal Winery 1/27/2011: This is one of those wineries whose entry level estate Zinfandel is made from 50 year old vines. They have other estate Zinfandel vines up to 130 years old. This is a family winery that has long been a favorite of myself, my family, and a very diverse number of friends. This estate is right in the middle of Cabernet country in Alexander Valley. I suspect if they were planting today, Cabernet would be by far the majority of their plantings. As it is, we, the public get to really enjoy some well made, very ripe, but still balanced and civilized Zinfandels. This one is a pretty good balance of that concentrated old vine intensity, and bright, pure dark brambly fruit. Pretty heavy in the mouth for a Zin, possibly from the influence of oak. Layered blackberry, cherry, and red raspberry fruit. Nice alcohol integration, which may be helped by the couple of years in the bottle. Typical, long,fruity Zinfandel finish.
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1/27/2011 - corkscrews wrote: 86 Points
A nose of black cherry and some spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied Zin, black cherry, licorice, with spice, a bit hot and a bit uneven, just ok.
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1/16/2011 - Klensing wrote: 89 Points
I'm finding more balance of fruit with spice and smooth tannins than other reviewers, especially after two hours of air. Not jammy at all to my palate. Fine value.
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1/13/2011 - zinfomaniac wrote: 87 Points
I've never had a wine change so much overnight. After I opened the bottle and decanted it for an hour or two it was all heat and no fruit. I would've ranked it in the very low 70's. I left the bottle open for two days and what a difference. Pear on the nose and strawberry on the palate with a medium finish. I've definitely learned a lesson here.
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1/8/2011 - bowmanbc wrote: 85 Points
never taste as good as they do at the winery, but liked this wine. curious how it will change over time as it's pretty muted not for a Zin.
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12/29/2010 - bowmanbc wrote: 88 Points
nice Zin, nothing crazy but just good taste and texture. not a spicy type, but more a soft fruit type to me.
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12/1/2010 - MystMrQ wrote: 88 Points
A light and balanced zin. Fruit forward with a cranberry tartness on the finish. Nice for the price.
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11/26/2010 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 90 Points
Offers both style and structure, with lively aromas of black raspberry, cracked pepper and mocha that lead to plush, layered flavors of earth and fresh sage.
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10/31/2010 - StuckinPA wrote: 88 Points
aromatic nose with black cherry, earth, and a jammy sensation. Color is dark red, almost purple, clear. ON the palate there are flavors of dark cherry, tobacco, a hint of chocolate. This is not a very complex wine, but really delicious, with a long, wonderful finish. A simple but classic zin, recommend it.
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9/21/2010 - snaff wrote: 86 Points
Heavy on fruit, with jammy raspberry notes. A decent Zin, but needs to integrate.
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2/17/2010 - Turkbzerk wrote: 90 Points
Big Bold and Very Fruity!!! Slight pepper, but not over powering. Great Bottle
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