Dark garnet hue, almost brickish. Aromas of cedar, cherry, forest floor, honey, jam, pepper, plum, tar, vanilla. Medium body with medium tannins and medium-minus acidity. Soft and lush on the palate.
On the 2nd day, it opened up with aromas of blackberry, leather, mushroom. Still has a short, oaky finish.
On the 3rd day, it's reverted to old, tertiary notes.
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- Ruby color and aromas of blackberry. It's balanced and has flavours of strawberry jam and black pepper with a full body with a medium finish - Very nice zin.
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another bottle, another set of notes - color: raspberry jello, before it hardens; nose: cherry as well as oak; taste: medium-bodied mouth feel, cassis taste, anise and black pepper medium-length finish; overall: modern, fruity, balanced, and predictable -- happily platonic rather than erotic, akin to the pleasure of welcoming a family member's or good friend's hug or kiss, and with a great QPR at $11.50/bottle. Drink it now (2012), no reason to wait.
4/19/12 - color: bright purple velvet; nose: oak; taste: medium-bodied mouth feel, oaky cherry taste, medium-length finish tasting of black pepper, anise, menthol, and blackberries; overall: modern, casual everyday Zinfandel with plenty of stuffing, tasty by itself and probably also a good pairing with grilled burgers or sausage, offers excellent QPR at $11.69 sale price, near-peer of Edmeades Mendocino Zin (my favorite). Improves after 60 minutes in a carafe.
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color: light-to-medium purple with a tinge of ruby; nose: cherries galore!; taste: thinnish mouth feel, cherry-blackberry taste, yummy peppery medium-length finish; overall: very good fruit forward wine which paired well with roasted chicken, very good QPR at $13
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Dark magenta. Raspberry jam, oak, and carmel nose. Medium bodied, candied cherries, cranberries, pepper, figs, cedar, grainy tannins, more pepper, soy sauce, and a medium+ finish. Pretty good balance and worth the low fare.
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I got to agree with Angusrocks's assessment below. A nice full-bodied red zinfandel that easily beat out the more expensive Charles Krug Cabernet that we also had open at our party. One of my wine friends liked it better as well.
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Stunned by some of the reviews below. Opened this with three friends. All four of us are experienced wine enthusiasts. There was a mad dash to re-fill our glasses. Opaque, full-bodied Zin. Soft tannins. Not much on the nose, but solid dark fruit flavors. A joy on its own. Can't wait to try another, and was a steal at $14.
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(15.5%) 86% Zinfandel, 5% Mixed Black Grapes, 3% Alicante Bouschet, 3% Petite Sirah, 3% Syrah – Having family in Europe this is what I would think of taking them to join something in quintessential California style (for better or worse). Ripe, forward fruit, jammy, creamy with a sweet toasted vanilla oak finish that shows some pepper spice while lingering warmly. Not my style but I know that many do like this one. Well-made and widely available at ~$17.
Wine Geek Notes: 41,000 cases made, made from vines a minimum of 50 years old, field blended.
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From one of my favorite wineries, and from one of my favorite vintages, we bought this to eat with holiday hamburgs. First impression on pouring was very dark color. Even before swirling and tasting the air was filled with a cedary, spicy, sandalwood and bramble thing. On first taste, we got a very spicy entrance, and alcohol. Things settled in to a more traditional zin fruit profile, mostly big and chewey blackberry and cherry. We have some big oak here, maybe American, rounds things out, but leaves a somewhat heavy feel in the mouth. I would prefer more tannins and acid with my burgers. Would rather sip this alone. The fruity finish did not last too long.
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Tasted over 2 days. Agree completely with fingers' note below. From the get-go, super-ripe and port-like loaded with sweet vanilla oak. Settled down a bit on the second day finally showing some Zin-like flavors, but it was still over the top sweet and oaky. This kind of wine makes me angry -- it has wide distribution and is relatively well-priced, so this will be one of the few Zinfandels that many people try and they'll hate it, of course. Many of these people will then form the opinion "I don't like Zinfandel" based on this one wine even though it is not representative of most Zin. This is the kind of Zin that gives Zin a reputation of being over the top -- witness GreatWall's tasting note below for further proof.
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Decanted for 6h and then drank to steak and fits good and tasted well; however the second day I drank it not to a meal and I did not like it at all ! Very difficult to rate this wine for me also because I in the past I did not like Zinfandel but I bought two bottles because I was in the US and thought this wine has a good rating from Hugh Johnson and for USD16 that should be good value for money so why not try a Zinfandel. Sometimes I cannot understand these wine critics as this wine is hardly to recommend. However I hope the second bottle is much better.
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Man, oh man, this is really tasty for the $13! After about 2 hours it starts to deepen, with a very chewy background on the palette. Definitely 90 points.
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Dark, dusty violet, 90% opaque. Profound alcoholic ripeness augmented by some brett, cough syrup, vanilla, and oak. Hot palate that is awkward and unbalanced with flat cherry cola, bitter tannins, and lazy and sour acidity. Sweet, port-ish finish. Blech 4+8+9+5 = 76
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3/28/2024 - WhooskeyWine wrote: 86 Points
Dark garnet hue, almost brickish. Aromas of cedar, cherry, forest floor, honey, jam, pepper, plum, tar, vanilla. Medium body with medium tannins and medium-minus acidity. Soft and lush on the palate.
On the 2nd day, it opened up with aromas of blackberry, leather, mushroom. Still has a short, oaky finish.
On the 3rd day, it's reverted to old, tertiary notes.
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4/30/2013 - Wiktor wrote: 90 Points
Excellent zin. Good berry color, bouquet, and a slight oak flavor. A great go-to zin - every time.
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12/30/2012 - reddart wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, drink up.
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7/12/2012 - Eigerdog wrote: 90 Points
- Ruby color and aromas of blackberry. It's balanced and has flavours of strawberry jam and black pepper with a full body with a medium finish - Very nice zin.
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4/30/2012 - Epic Tale Likes this wine: 89 Points
another bottle, another set of notes - color: raspberry jello, before it hardens; nose: cherry as well as oak; taste: medium-bodied mouth feel, cassis taste, anise and black pepper medium-length finish; overall: modern, fruity, balanced, and predictable -- happily platonic rather than erotic, akin to the pleasure of welcoming a family member's or good friend's hug or kiss, and with a great QPR at $11.50/bottle. Drink it now (2012), no reason to wait.
4/19/12 - color: bright purple velvet; nose: oak; taste: medium-bodied mouth feel, oaky cherry taste, medium-length finish tasting of black pepper, anise, menthol, and blackberries; overall: modern, casual everyday Zinfandel with plenty of stuffing, tasty by itself and probably also a good pairing with grilled burgers or sausage, offers excellent QPR at $11.69 sale price, near-peer of Edmeades Mendocino Zin (my favorite). Improves after 60 minutes in a carafe.
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4/10/2012 - jamon7 wrote: 88 Points
Great aroma! Dark cherries, well balanced, refreshing. Perfect for a stormy easter week afternoon! At its peak
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2/12/2012 - Epic Tale Likes this wine: 88 Points
color: light-to-medium purple with a tinge of ruby; nose: cherries galore!; taste: thinnish mouth feel, cherry-blackberry taste, yummy peppery medium-length finish; overall: very good fruit forward wine which paired well with roasted chicken, very good QPR at $13
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1/18/2012 - merryberry wrote: 87 Points
Dark magenta. Raspberry jam, oak, and carmel nose. Medium bodied, candied cherries, cranberries, pepper, figs, cedar, grainy tannins, more pepper, soy sauce, and a medium+ finish. Pretty good balance and worth the low fare.
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1/15/2012 - klanham wrote: 89 Points
Spice. Cola. Black pepper. Very enjoyable. Has some length on the finish.
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1/2/2012 - ghoztly wrote: 89 Points
I got to agree with Angusrocks's assessment below. A nice full-bodied red zinfandel that easily beat out the more expensive Charles Krug Cabernet that we also had open at our party. One of my wine friends liked it better as well.
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12/20/2011 - AngusRocks wrote: 90 Points
Stunned by some of the reviews below. Opened this with three friends. All four of us are experienced wine enthusiasts. There was a mad dash to re-fill our glasses. Opaque, full-bodied Zin. Soft tannins. Not much on the nose, but solid dark fruit flavors. A joy on its own. Can't wait to try another, and was a steal at $14.
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11/29/2011 - Jason Rzutkiewicz wrote: 85 Points
(15.5%) 86% Zinfandel, 5% Mixed Black Grapes, 3% Alicante Bouschet, 3% Petite Sirah, 3% Syrah – Having family in Europe this is what I would think of taking them to join something in quintessential California style (for better or worse). Ripe, forward fruit, jammy, creamy with a sweet toasted vanilla oak finish that shows some pepper spice while lingering warmly. Not my style but I know that many do like this one. Well-made and widely available at ~$17.
Wine Geek Notes: 41,000 cases made, made from vines a minimum of 50 years old, field blended.
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11/27/2011 - greatwall wrote: 79 Points
stays with the 79 points
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11/23/2011 - ersmith wrote: 89 Points
Needed some red wine for the cranberry relish. We sipped on the rest. This is a very smooth and nicely balanced zin.
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9/24/2011 - reddart wrote: 90 Points
Still a great wine at this price.
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9/16/2011 - Frabjous Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great QPR Cali ‘Zin
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9/10/2011 - leonardo_de_araujo wrote: 80 Points
A simple zin.
Unidimensional with fruit spices and burnt wood at the back end (coffee and chocolate)
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8/27/2011 - lampld wrote: 70 Points
Aroma - strong and spicy
Taste - very peppery, not for us
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8/20/2011 - reddart wrote: 89 Points
Nice jammy raisin, smooth tannins, and good full body. Berry and alcohol in the nose. Very nice
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8/4/2011 - JRWehner wrote: 91 Points
This is what I call a 'caser'. Awesome Zinfandel!! Heading out to get a case.
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7/3/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 Points
From one of my favorite wineries, and from one of my favorite vintages, we bought this to eat with holiday hamburgs. First impression on pouring was very dark color. Even before swirling and tasting the air was filled with a cedary, spicy, sandalwood and bramble thing. On first taste, we got a very spicy entrance, and alcohol. Things settled in to a more traditional zin fruit profile, mostly big and chewey blackberry and cherry. We have some big oak here, maybe American, rounds things out, but leaves a somewhat heavy feel in the mouth. I would prefer more tannins and acid with my burgers. Would rather sip this alone. The fruity finish did not last too long.
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4/26/2011 - Frabjous wrote:
Consistent with prior notes - excellent!
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4/9/2011 - Bucknuts wrote: 90 Points
Musty, peppery, jam
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3/29/2011 - Rtayloe wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed @ Deno's Mountain Bistro in Winter Park, CO.
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3/25/2011 - Frabjous wrote: 89 Points
Medium ruby red in the glass, only a bit less color in the meniscus. Spicy pepper on the nose, with perhaps some citrus notes as well.
Spiciness continues on the palate with pitted fruits and berry fruits as well.
Finish is brief-ish but enjoyable; a fleeting reprise of the fruit and spice, as it were.
Yummy, really really great QPR!
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3/8/2011 - Quailjulia wrote: 90 Points
What good value for the price.
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1/19/2011 - PIntag wrote: 77 Points
Tasted over 2 days. Agree completely with fingers' note below. From the get-go, super-ripe and port-like loaded with sweet vanilla oak. Settled down a bit on the second day finally showing some Zin-like flavors, but it was still over the top sweet and oaky. This kind of wine makes me angry -- it has wide distribution and is relatively well-priced, so this will be one of the few Zinfandels that many people try and they'll hate it, of course. Many of these people will then form the opinion "I don't like Zinfandel" based on this one wine even though it is not representative of most Zin. This is the kind of Zin that gives Zin a reputation of being over the top -- witness GreatWall's tasting note below for further proof.
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1/8/2011 - mhondo17 wrote: 87 Points
Fruity and peppery but a bit hot, a touch thin. Better as it opened, became rather enjoyable.
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1/3/2011 - greatwall wrote: 79 Points
Decanted for 6h and then drank to steak and fits good and tasted well; however the second day I drank it not to a meal and I did not like it at all !
Very difficult to rate this wine for me also because I in the past I did not like Zinfandel but I bought two bottles because I was in the US and thought this wine has a good rating from Hugh Johnson and for USD16 that should be good value for money so why not try a Zinfandel. Sometimes I cannot understand these wine critics as this wine is hardly to recommend.
However I hope the second bottle is much better.
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12/27/2010 - Nutella wrote: 90 Points
A fantastic value.
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12/19/2010 - Titelbaum wrote: 84 Points
Feh
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11/9/2010 - Frabjous wrote: 90 Points
Man, oh man, this is really tasty for the $13! After about 2 hours it starts to deepen, with a very chewy background on the palette. Definitely 90 points.
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11/4/2010 - fingers wrote: 76 Points
Dark, dusty violet, 90% opaque. Profound alcoholic ripeness augmented by some brett, cough syrup, vanilla, and oak. Hot palate that is awkward and unbalanced with flat cherry cola, bitter tannins, and lazy and sour acidity. Sweet, port-ish finish. Blech 4+8+9+5 = 76
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8/22/2010 - gmiller_umcp wrote: 95 Points
Like Ritterhof
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7/25/2010 - difran wrote: 87 Points
Nice, everyday zin.
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6/19/2010 - Frabjous wrote: 90 Points
Yum!
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5/23/2010 - leatonmb wrote: 91 Points
well balanced bold deep stone fruit
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5/9/2010 - Frabjous Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice spicy zin.
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3/31/2010 - Frabjous wrote: 89 Points
Great QPR Zin; will let other 5 bottles lie until next fall/winter, it needs to age a bit more.
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